Jasper Cillessen celebrates his 31st birthday this Wednesday, albeit under very unusual circumstances in isolation in Valencia. Whilst he is missing the cream cake that his mother would make each year for him in his native Groesbeek in the Netherlands, the goalkeeper is preparing for the return to action of LaLiga, on a date still to be established.

In a normal year, there would be a fair chance of an important game falling around the time of his birthday. It has happened just the once on April 22nd itself: Back in 2012, when he was an unused substitute in a 2-0 win for AFC Ajax against FC Groningen. Two years ago, in 2018, it came the day after FC Barcelona had won the Copa del Rey with a 5-0 triumph over Sevilla, in which Cillessen kept a clean sheet.

From De Treffers, to Achilles'29, to NEC Nimega, AFC Ajax, FC Barcelona and now Valencia CF, Jasper Cillessen has made constant progress during his playing career to date. He is in what are considered prime years for a goalkeeper, and maintains the same desire for improvement that took him from riding his bicycle in a small, 20,000 population town in the Netherlands to a packed Mestalla.