Kees Smit

Last updated
Kees Smit
Personal information
Date of birth (2006-01-21) 21 January 2006 (age 18)
Place of birth Heiloo, The Netherlands
Height 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
AZ
Number 26
Youth career
0000–2023 AZ Alkmaar
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2023– AZ 1 (0)
2023– Jong AZ 32 (2)
International career
2021 Netherlands U16 1 (0)
Netherlands U17
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 8 July 2024

Kees Smit (born 21 January 2006) is a Dutch footballer who plays for Eredivisie club AZ Alkmaar as a midfielder. [1]

Contents

Career

From Heiloo, Smit joined the academy at AZ Alkmaar at nine years-old in 2015. He then became the youngest member of their under-12 squad. [2] After progressing through the ranks at AZ, he signed a three-and-a-half-year professional contract in January 2021. [3] [4]

In December 2022, Smit was included with the first team squad on their mid-season break travelling training party to Valencia, Spain. [5] In January 2023, a goal Smit scored in a five-a-side indoor game went viral due to its unusual nature, as he beat the outrushing goalkeeper with shot rebounded from the side wall. [6] [7] [8] Later that month, Smit made his professional debut for Jong AZ in the Eerste Divisie in a home match against Helmond Sport, on January 23, 2023. [9] [10]

With AZ under-19s playing in the UEFA Youth League he was part of the team that beat Barcelona and Real Madrid on consecutive rounds to reach the semi-finals in March 2023. [11] [12] [13] Smit scored a long range goal in the UEFA Youth League last-sixteen tie against Barcelona that brought praise. [14] [15] [16] He also played in the UEFA Youth League final against Hajduk Split as AZ ran out 5-0 winners. [17]

International career

In November 2021, Smit played for the Netherlands national under-16 football team against the Belgian under-16s. [18] Smit has since been selected for the Dutch U17s. [19] [20]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">AZ Alkmaar</span> Dutch professional football club

Alkmaar Zaanstreek, better known internationally as AZ Alkmaar, or simply and most commonly as AZ in the Netherlands, is a Dutch professional football club from Alkmaar and the Zaan district. The club plays in the Eredivisie, the highest professional football league in the Netherlands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ron Vlaar</span> Dutch former footballer (born 1985)

Ron Peter Vlaar is a Dutch former footballer who played as a centre-back.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Demy de Zeeuw</span> Dutch footballer (born 1983)

Demy Patrick René de Zeeuw is a Dutch former professional footballer who played as a defensive midfielder. He previously played for AGOVV, Go Ahead Eagles, AZ and AFC Ajax. While at AZ he was a key player in the squad that won the 2008–09 Dutch league, the club's first championship victory in 28 years. Following this success he transferred to Ajax, with whom he won the 2009–10 Dutch Cup, and the 2010–11 Dutch league title. A good tackler and a gifted passer of the ball, he made 24 appearances for the Netherlands national team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ASWH</span> Dutch association football club

ASWH, short for Altijd Sterker Worden Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht, is an association football club from Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht, Netherlands. The club was founded in 1929. It won section championships in 1949, 1959, 1961, 1970, 1883, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2005, and 2024. In 2005 ASWH also won the Dutch Championship of Amateur Soccer and the Dutch Championship of Saturday Soccer. Ascending gradually through the ranks, ASWH played 2019–2022 in the semi-professional Tweede Divisie. In 2023, it joined the Vierde Divisie, after relegating twice for the first time in the club's history. In 2023–2024, ASWH operates 70 teams in competitions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steven Berghuis</span> Dutch footballer (born 1991)

Steven Berghuis is a Dutch professional footballer who plays for Eredivisie club Ajax and the Netherlands national team. He can play as either a winger or an attacking midfielder.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alireza Jahanbakhsh</span> Iranian footballer (born 1993)

Alireza Jahanbakhsh Jirendeh is an Iranian professional footballer who plays as a right winger and attacking midfielder, he captains the Iran national team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Timo Letschert</span> Dutch footballer (born 1993)

Timo Letschert is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Chinese Super League club Chengdu Rongcheng.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Desiree van Lunteren</span> Dutch footballer

Desiree van Lunteren is a Dutch footballer who plays as a right-back or a midfielder for AZ in the Eredivisie Vrouwen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thom Haye</span> Indonesian footballer (born 1995)

Thom Jan Marinus Haye is a professional footballer who plays as a midfielder. Born in the Netherlands, he represents the Indonesia national team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oussama Idrissi</span> Moroccan footballer (born 1996)

Oussama Idrissi is a professional footballer who plays as a winger for Liga MX club Pachuca. Born in the Netherlands, he represents the Morocco national team.

Myron Boadu is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as a striker for Ligue 1 club Monaco.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Teun Koopmeiners</span> Dutch footballer (born 1998)

Teun Koopmeiners is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Serie A club Atalanta and the Netherlands national team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Danilo (footballer, born 1999)</span> Brazilian footballer (born 1999)

Danilo Pereira da Silva is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Scottish Premiership club Rangers.

Mexx Meerdink is a Dutch footballer who plays for Eredivisie club AZ Alkmaar.

Lewis Schouten is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Dutch club AZ Alkmaar.

Ro-Zangelo Daal is a Dutch footballer who plays for Jong AZ.

Jurre van Aken is a Dutch footballer who plays for Jong AZ in the Eerste Divisie.

Rome Jayden Owusu-Oduro is a Dutch footballer who plays for AZ Alkmaar as a goalkeeper.

Dave Kwakman is a Dutch footballer who plays as a midfielder for AZ Alkmaar.

Daniël Beukers is a Dutch footballer who plays for Eerste Divisie club Volendam.

References

  1. "Kees Smit". Soccerway. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  2. "Speler van de Maand: Kees Smit". az.nl. November 18, 2022. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  3. "Kees Smit signs first contract with AZ". deforesters.nl. February 2021. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  4. "AZ bindt Smit". January 29, 2021. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  5. "AZ geeft talenten weer de kans: zestienjarige mee op trainingskamp". vi.nl. December 17, 2022. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  6. "AZ jeugdspeler Smit steelt show bij 5 tegen 5-toernooi met déze slimme goal". sportnieuws.nl. January 9, 2023. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  7. "Smit rough edges Brilliant goal from Alkmaar youth player in the hall". 11freunde.de. January 9, 2023. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  8. Hörmann, Daniel (January 9, 2023). "Video: Freches Tor über Bande bei Jugendhallenturnier". Fumsmagazin. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  9. Brinkman, Erik -Jan (January 27, 2023). "Double feeling for Young AZ talent Kees Smit after special week: "Boy's dream"". nhnieuws.nl. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  10. "AZ II VS. HELMOND 1-1". Soccerway. January 23, 2023. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  11. "Daniël Beukers klopt met AZ Barcelona". March 2, 2023. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
  12. "El AZ Alkmaar repite la misma receta para dejar fuera al Madrid". besoccer.com. March 16, 2023. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
  13. "Lewis Schouten en Daniël Breukers smaakmakers bij Youth League/sensatie". telegraaf.nl. March 16, 2023. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
  14. "Youth League: The incredible goal of the central circle of Kees Smit which surprises Barça!". beinsports.com. March 1, 2023. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  15. Van Poppel, Jeroen (March 1, 2023). "Kees Smit enchants Johan Cruijff stadium with an unparalleled goal against Barcelona" . Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  16. "Wondergoal! AZ-talent Kees Smit (17) schiet vanuit middencirkel raak tegen FC Barcelona in Youth League". sportnieuws.nl. March 1, 2023. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  17. "UEFA Youth League final report: AZ Alkmaar 5-0 Hajduk Split". UEFA.com. April 24, 2023. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
  18. "Oefeninterlands, seizoen 2021/22". onsoranje.nl. November 23, 2021. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  19. Fleming, Connor (January 8, 2023). "This is one of the most satisfyingly inventive indoor goals ever". the18.com. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  20. "Update: zeven AZ'ers in voorlopige selectie Oranje Onder 17". az.nl. March 4, 2023. Retrieved March 17, 2023.