Soccer Memories-Part 62- Holland national Team’s Once-Cap Wonders of the 1980s

 

I look back at the history of the Holland National Team players who made a solitary appearance for the National Team in the 1980s.

The aim is to look upon the reason, background and circumstances why a certain player was selected for a match but never again.

 

Presentation of the one-capped players for Holland/Netherlands in the decade of the 1980s:

 

Luuk Balkestein

25-year-old defender Luuk Balkestein of Sparta Rotterdam made his only appearance vs. France on March 26^th, 1980, at Paris (scoreless). He was replaced in the second half by Willy van de Kerkhof. 

He made his debut with Sparta in the 70s, he joined Feyenoord in 1980, but made few appearances in two seasons before retiring in 1982.

 

Photo From: Panini Holland 1979/80

(Luuk Balkestein)

Martien Vreijsen

24 year-old striker Martien Vreijsen of NAC Breda was a member of the 1980 Euro Finals squad, despite being uncapped before. He made his only appearance vs. Greece on June 11^th, 1980, at Napoli (1-0 win). He was replaced in the second half by Dick Nanninga. 

He had played for NAC Breda and Feyenoord in the 1970s before rejoining NAC Breda in 1977.

He left NAC in 1981 and played for Twente Enschede until retirement in 1986.

 

 

Photo From: Panini Holland 1979/80

(Martien Vreijsen)

Jan van Deinsen

27-year old midfielder Jan van Deinsen of Feyenoord made his only appearance in a World Cup Qualifier vs. Republic of Ireland on September 10^th, 1980, at Dublin (1-2 loss). He was Dutch Manager Jan Zwartkruis’ final one-cap.

He started in the early 1970s with NEC before joining Go Ahead Eagles in 1974. After two seasons, he joined Feyenoord in 1976 and remained with the club until retirement in 1983.

 

Photo From: Panini Holland 1980/81

(Jan van Deinsen)

Kees Schapendonk (MVV) and Romeo Zondervan (Twente Enschede)

25-year old striker Kees Schapendonk (MVV) and 21-year-old midfielder Romeo Zondervan (Twente Enschede) made their only appearance in a World Cup Qualifier vs. Cyprus on February 22^nd, 1981, at Groningen (3-0). The pair were selected by interim Manager Rob Baan’s only match in charge. Despite Schapendonk scoring on his debut, both players were not called up again.

Kees Schapendonk started out with Eindhoven in the 1970s before joining MVV in 1979.

In 1982, he joined Belgian side Gent, before returning home to Excelsior in 1986. After one season, he joined RKC in 1987. After three seasons, he joined NAC Breda in 1990 before retiring in 1993.

Romeo Zondervan started out with Den Haag before joining Twente Enschede in 1978.

He is well known for his spell in the English League. He joined West Bromwich Albion in 1982 and then joined Ipswich Town in 1984. He remained with Ipswich until 1992, which included seasons in the Second Division.

In 1992, he returned home to join NAC Breda (with Schapendonk as teammate) and retire in 1995.

 

Photo From: Panini Holland 1980/81

(Kees Schapendonk)

 

Photo From: Panini Holland 1980/81

(Romeo Zondervan)

Willy Janssen

21-year-old defender Willy Janssen of PSV Eindhoven made his only appearance vs. Switzerland on September 1^st, 1981, at Zurich (1-2 loss). He was Dutch Manager Kees Rijvers’ first only-cap.

He made his debut along with Ruud Gullit, Frank Rijkaard and Wim Kieft.

He made his debut with PSV Eindhoven in the 70s and remained until February 1982, when he joined NAC Breda.

He remained with NAC Breda until 1985 before retiring.

 

 

Photo From: Panini Holland 1981/82

(Willy Janssen)

Edward Metgod

John Metgod’s brother, 22-year-old FC Haarlem goalkeeper Edward made his lone appearance in a friendly vs. France on November 10^th, 1982, at Rotterdam (1-2 loss).

He made his debut with HFC Haarlem in (1979/80) and stayed with the club for over a decade until 1990.

In 1990, he joined Sparta Rotterdam before retiring in 1997.

 

 

Photo From: Panini Holland 1982/83

(Edward Metgod)

René Hofman

21-year-old winger René Hofman of Roda JC Kerkrade made his only appearance vs. Malta in a European Qualifier on December 19^th, 1982, at Aachen, West Germany (6-0 win). He was replaced by Ruud Gullit in the 66^th minute.

He made his debut with Roda JC Kerkrade in the late 70s and remained with the club until 1986.

He joined Feyenoord in 1986 and remained until 1989. He then re-joined Roda JC Kerkrade before leaving again in 1992.

He played his last two seasons with Fortuna Sittard before retiring in 1994.

 

 

Photo From: Panini Holland 1982/83

(René Hofman)

Andre Hoekstra

22-year-old midfielder Andre Hoekstra of Feyenoord made his only appearance vs. Denmark on March 14^th, 1984, at Amsterdam (6-0 win). He was Dutch Manager Kees Rijvers’ final only-cap. Despite scoring he was not called up again.

He started with Feyenoord in the early 80s and remained with the club until 1988, winning the 1984 domestic League and Cup double in 1984.

He joined RKC Waalwijk in 1988 and remained with the club and retired in 1994.

 

 

Photo From: Panini Holland 1983/84

(Andre Hoekstra)

Mario Been

Much had been expected of 20-year-old midfielder Mario Been of Feyenoord. He made his only appearance in a World Cup qualifier vs. Austria on November 14^th, 1984, at Vienna (0-1 loss). He came on as a substitute for Ton Lokhoff in the 73^rd minute. He was Dutch Manager Rinus Michels’ first only-cap.

He started out with Feyenoord and was part of the 1984 domestic League and Cup winning side.

He remained with the club until 1988 and joined Italian Serie A side Pisa. He suffered relegation in 1989 but played in the Serie B for the following season (1989/90).

He returned home in 1990 and joined Roda JC Kerkrade for one season (1990/91) before joining Heerenveen (1991/92), Austrian side Tirol Innsbruck (1992/93) and Excelsior (1993 thru 1995) before retiring.

He later managed the likes of Excelsior, NEC, Feyenoord and Genk among others.

 

 

Photo From: Panini Holland 1984/85

(Mario Been)

Hennie Meijer

25-year-old striker Hennie Meijer had been signed by Johann Cruyff for Ajax in 1987 after the departure of Marco van Basten. He made his only appearance in a friendly vs. Belgium on September 9^th, 1987, at Rotterdam (scoreless tie). He came on as a substitute for Aron Winter in the 67^th minute.

He started out with Telstar (1983/84) and then joined Volendam (1984/85). H ejoined Roda JC Kerkrade in 1985, before joining Ajax in 1987.

After one season with Ajax, he joined Groningen in 1988 and remained until 1993.

After a short stint in Japan in 1993 with Verdy Kawasaki, he returned home to join Cambuur (1993/94). He then joined Heerenveen (1994/95), before playing for De Graafschap (1996) and Venndam (1996 thru 1998) before retiring.

 

 

Photo From: Panini Holland 1987/88

(Hennie Meijer)

Joop Lankhaar

21-year-old defender Joop Lankhaar of Den Haag made his only appearance vs. Greece in a European Qualifier on December 16^th, 1987, at Rhodos (3-0 win).

He started out with Den Haag in 1984 and remained with the club until 1988. In 1988, he joined Belgian side Racing Mechelen and remained with the club until 1993.

He then joined another Belgian side SK Lierse in 1993 and remained until 1995.

He returned home in 1995 and joined Dordrecht’90 before retiring in 1999.

 

 

Photo From: Panini Holland 1987/88

(Joop Lankhaar)

Wim Koevermans

27-year-old defender Wim Koevermans of Fortuna Sittard was a member of Holland’s 1988 Euros winning Finals squad. He made his only appearance in a pre-tournament friendly vs. Bulgaria on May 24^th, 1988, at Rotterdam (1-2 loss). He was Dutch Manager Rinus Michels’ final one-cap. He was replaced in the 61^st minute by Erwin Koeman.

Hestarted with FC Vlaardingen in the late 70s. In 1980, he joined Fortuna Sittard and remained with the club until 1988.

In 1988, he joined Groningen before retiring in 1990.

He later had a career as a Manager for the likes of Groningen, RBC, NEC and MVV and the Indian National Team.

 

 

Photo From: Panini Holland 1987/88

(Wim Koevermans)

Fred Rutten

27-year-old defender Fred Rutten of Twente Enschede made his only appearance in a friendly vs. Italy on November 16^th, 1988, at Roma (0-1 loss). He was Dutch Manager Thijs Libregts’ first only-cap. He came on as a substitute for Wilbert Suvrijn in the 69^th minute.

He started out with Twente Enschede in the late 70s and spent his entire career with the club retiring in 1992.

He later had a career as Manager and managed the likes of Twente Enschede, Schalke 04, PSV Eindhoven, Vitesse, Feyenoord, Al Shabab, Maccabi Haifa and Anderlecht.

 

Photo From: Panini Holland 1988/89

(Fred Rutten)

Theo Snelders

26-year-old Aberdeen goalkeeper Theo Snelders made his lone appearance in a friendly vs. USSR on March 22^nd, 1989, at Eindhoven (2-0 win).

He was the third goalkeeper in the 1994 World Cup Finals squad.

He started out with Twente Enschede in 1980 and remained with the club until 1988.

He had a long career in Scottish Football after joining Aberdeen in 1988. He remained with the club until 1996 and then joined Rangers Glasgow as a back-up until 1999.

At Aberdeen, in 1989, he was Scottish PFA Players’ Player of the year. He won the 1989 League Cup and the 1990 FA Cup with the club.

He returned home in 1999 and joined MVV before retiring in 2001.

 

 

Photo From: Panini Holland 1987/88

(Theo Snelders)

Frank Berghuis (Volendam) and Bart Latuheru (Vitesse)

22-year-old winger Frank Berghuis (Volendam) and 24-year-old midfielder Bart Latuheru (Vitesse) made their only appearance in a friendly vs. Brazil on December 20^th, 1989, at Rotterdam (0-1 loss). The pair were Dutch Manager Thijs Libregts final only-caps and the last only-caps of the decade. Frank Berghuis was replaced by John van't Schip in the 58^th minute.

Frank Berghuis started out with PSV in 1984, but left the club after a handful of appearances in 1986 to join VVV. After a brief return to PSV in 1988, he joined Zwolle in 1988/89 season. In 1989, he joined Volendam and remained with the club until 1991.

He then joined Galatasaray in the Turkish League (1991/92) before returning home and rejoin Volendam (1992/93). He then joined Belgian side Lommel in 1993 and remained there until 1995.

In 1995, he returned home and joined Cambuur before retiring in 2000.

He is the father of Steven Berghuis.

 

Bart Latuheru started out with SBV Excelsior in 1985 and remained with the club until 1989. In 1989, he joined Vitesse and remained there until 1996.

In 1996, he joined AZ for one season (1996/97) before joining NEC. He left NEC in 2002 and phased out his career with spells at SV Deltasport (2002/05), Xerxes (2005/06) and SC Neptunus (2006/07) before retiring.

Photo From: Panini Holland 1989/90

(Frank Berghuis)

Photo From: Panini Holland 1989/90

(Bart Latuheru)