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 5 (0)
2023– Jong AZ 42 (6)
International career‡
2021 Netherlands U16 6 (0)
2022–2023 Netherlands U17 7 (0)
2023– Netherlands U18 3 (0)
2024– Netherlands U19 7 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 15 December 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 15 October 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]

He made his UEFA Europa League debut for AZ Alkmaar on 7 November 2024 in a 3-1 home win against Fenerbahçe, scoring the second goal and being credited with an assist for the third. [18]

International career

In November 2021, Smit played for the Netherlands national under-16 football team against the Belgian under-16s. [19] Smit has since been selected for the Dutch U17s. [20] [21]

Career statistics

As of match played 15 December 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueCupEuropeOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Jong AZ 2022–23 Eerste Divisie 40———40
2023–24 Eerste Divisie292———292
2024–25 Eerste Divisie94———94
Total426———426
AZ 2024–25 Eredivisie 50002 [a] 10081
Career total476002100497
  1. ↑ Appearances in UEFA Europa League

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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. ↑ "Effective AZ thanks in part to 18-year-old star Smit past Fenerbahçe: 3-1". Nos.nl. 7 November 2024. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
  19. ↑ "Oefeninterlands, seizoen 2021/22". onsoranje.nl. November 23, 2021. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  20. ↑ Fleming, Connor (January 8, 2023). "This is one of the most satisfyingly inventive indoor goals ever". the18.com. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  21. ↑ "Update: zeven AZ'ers in voorlopige selectie Oranje Onder 17". az.nl. March 4, 2023. Retrieved March 17, 2023.


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