Willem "Pim" Doesburg (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈʋɪləm ˈpɪm ˈduzbʏr(ə)x]; 28 October 1943 – 18 November 2020) was a footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He obtained eight caps for the Netherlands national team from 1967 to 1981.[1] Doesburg is the Eredivisie record holder for matches played, with 687 games in a 25-year career.[2]

Club career

Doesburg made his senior debut for Sparta Rotterdam in August 1962 against Blauw-Wit and played 471 Eredivisie matches for them in two spells with the club[3] and won the 1966 KNVB Cup. He also played over 200 games for PSV Eindhoven,[4] winning the Dutch title twice (1986 and 1987).

International career

Doesburg made his debut for the Netherlands in an April 1967 friendly match against Belgium and earned eight caps. He played one match at the 1980 European Championships versus Greece in Naples, coming on as a substitute to replace Piet Schrijvers in the 15th minute of a 1–0 win. His final international game was in February 1981 against Cyprus.[5]

Personal life

Doesburg was born on 28 October 1943 in Rotterdam, South Holland. After his career ended, he became a keepers coach, and worked for Feyenoord. He died on 17 November 2020 at the age of 77 after suffering from COVID-19.[6][7] His grandson Pepijn Doesburg also became a professional footballer. He credited his grandfather with passing on advice around the mental toughness required to play professionally which helped Pepijn with the mentality required to help overcome injuries in his career.[8][9]

Honours

Sparta

PSV Eindhoven

References

  1. ^ "Interlands Pim Doesburg". Archived from the original on 3 August 2008. Retrieved 29 June 2009.
  2. ^ Zestig jaar Eredivisie: Van der Kuylen, Doesburg en meer - Voetbal International (in Dutch)
  3. ^ SPARTA IN CIJFERS Archived 9 April 2017 at the Wayback Machine - Sparta (in Dutch)
  4. ^ Pim Doesburg fanatieke doelman - PSV (in Dutch)
  5. ^ Intl career stats - EU Football
  6. ^ Pim Doesburg: trainingsbeest dat zwart-wit dacht, Algemeen Dagblad, 18. november 2020
  7. ^ "Oud-keeper en Eredivisie-recordhouder Pim Doesburg (77) overleden". nu.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 18 November 2020.
  8. ^ "Less than a year after his grandfather's funeral, Pepijn Doesburg is chasing a breakthrough at Sparta". AD.nl.
  9. ^ "Jong Sparta-spits Pepijn Doesburg hoopt in voetsporen van opa Pim te treden: 'Ik ben alleen niet zo goed met m'n handen'". Rijnmond.nl.

External links