Wim Kieft
Personal information | |||||||||||
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Full name | Willem Cornelis Nicolaas Kieft | ||||||||||
Date of birth | 12 November 1962 | ||||||||||
Place of birth | Amsterdam, Netherlands | ||||||||||
Height | 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) | ||||||||||
Position(s) |
Centre forward | ||||||||||
Youth career | |||||||||||
AVV Madjoe[1] | |||||||||||
1975–1979 | Ajax | ||||||||||
Senior career* | |||||||||||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||
1979–1983 | Ajax | 96 | (68) | ||||||||
1983–1986 |
Pisa | 91 | (25) | ||||||||
1986–1987 |
Torino | 19 | (8) | ||||||||
1987–1990 | PSV | 82 | (55) | ||||||||
1990–1991 | Bordeaux | 26 | (3) | ||||||||
1991–1994 | PSV | 88 | (34) | ||||||||
Total | 402 | (193) | |||||||||
International career | |||||||||||
1981–1993 | Netherlands | 43 | (11) | ||||||||
Medal record
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*Club domestic league appearances and goals |
Willem Cornelis Nicolaas "Wim" Kieft (born 12 November 1962) is a Dutch former professional
A prolific goal-scorer whose main asset was his heading ability, he played for two big clubs, Ajax and PSV. He also played in Italy and France.
Kieft played for the Netherlands national team, and was a member of the squad that won Euro 1988. He also represented his nation at the 1990 World Cup.
Club career
Born in Amsterdam, Kieft started his professional career with local AFC Ajax, making his first-team debuts on 4 May 1980 at not yet 18. Amongst his youth teammates were Frank Rijkaard, John van 't Schip, Marco van Basten and Gerald Vanenburg, as in his first two full seasons he scored at an astonishing rate, especially in 1981–82 when he netted 32 goals in as many games, being crucial as the team lifted the Eredivisie title and receiving the European Golden Boot award.[2]
At only 20, Kieft was sold to Italy's
In the summer of 1987, Kieft returned to his country and signed for
Kieft had his second and last abroad experience in 1990, joining FC Girondins de Bordeaux from France and again underachieving, returning to PSV and playing three more seasons until his retirement, averaging more than 11 goals in his second spell with the latter. In total, he scored 158 times in only 264 matches in the Netherlands' top division.
Kieft rejoined PSV in 2009, being named assistant coach of the club's youth sides.
International career
Kieft earned his first cap for the Netherlands in 1981. He would represent the national team in three major international tournaments, UEFA Euro 1988, the 1990 FIFA World Cup and Euro 1992.[4]
In the first competition, Kieft played three times for the eventual champions, always as a second-half substitute: on 18 June 1988, after having replaced Erwin Koeman, he scored in the 82nd minute of the 1–0 group stage win against the Republic of Ireland, through a header, helping the Dutch overtake their opponents in the match and finish second in Group 2 to secure a place in the semi-finals.[5]
Kieft played four times in the second tournament, held in Italy, starting against a familiar opponent, Ireland, and finding the net in the 1–1 draw against Egypt as the Oranje exited in the round-of-16.[6]
Post-retirement career and personal life
After retiring, Kieft worked as a football
His son, Robbin (born 1987), was also a footballer. After attending Ajax and FC Groningen's youth academies, he played exclusively in the lower leagues of the country.
In his biography, published in 2014, Kieft admitted a long-lasting addiction to alcohol and cocaine, which began after the end of his career and ended after a withdrawal treatment.[9]
Honours
Ajax
Pisa
- Serie B: 1984–85
- Mitropa Cup: 1985–86
PSV
Netherlands
- 1988
Individual
- Eredivisie top scorer: 1981–82, 1987–88
- European Golden Boot: 1982
- UEFA Cup Top scorer: 1986–87
References
- ^ Haen, Jo (14 September 2017). "092 – Wim Kieft begon bij Madjoe" (in Dutch). Stichting Vrienden van Watergraafsmeer. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
- ^ "Award winners". European Sports Media. Retrieved 20 November 2015.
- RSSSF. Retrieved 20 November 2015.
- ^ Wim Kieft – International Appearances; at RSSSF
- ^ "Tournament History: Euro 1988 (West Germany)". Goal. 4 June 2008. Retrieved 11 November 2011.
- ^ Wim Kieft – FIFA competition record (archived)
- ^ "Wim Kieft niet meer bij Voetbal Inside" (in Dutch). Televizier. 27 April 2016. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
- ^ "Wim Kieft verruilt Ziggo Sport voor Talpa" (in Dutch). NU.nl. 16 January 2019. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
- ^ "Wim Kieft berichtet von Kokain-Sucht" [Wim Kieft speaks of cocaine addiction]. Der Tagesspiegel (in German). 22 May 2014. Retrieved 14 July 2014.
External links
- Beijen profile (in Dutch)
- Wim Kieft at Wereld van Oranje (archived) (in Dutch)
- Wim Kieft at National-Football-Teams.com