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Where are they now: Theo Pahlplatz…

July 14th, 2009 | By: Jan | 27 Comments »

In a time when Holland had a number of great left wingers ( Coen Moulijn, Piet Keizer, Robbie Rensenbrink) Theo Pahlplatz (62) played 13 matches for Oranje and scored three goals. The former FC Twente star, he never played for another club, tells us about his past, present and future in…Where are they now!

PAST

“It was 1967 and for one reason or another all Ajax players thanked for the invite to play against the USSR. Georg Kessler invited all sorts of debutants and I was one of them. I started in De Kuip and it was hot news. I was the first player ever from Twente to play in Oranje since world war 2. As Twente players, we needed to be in tremendous form and most Feyenoord and Ajax players needed to be injured or worse for us to reach this level.

I can’t remember much of that game. I wasn’t too nervous, I think. I did think it was an honor of course. I was only 20 years old. Like Van Persie I was a real left winger, but Kessler put me on the right wing. I didn’t complain. Piet Keizer was Mr Left Wing in Ajax so I didn’t mind. I was part of Oranje for 6 years, so… I was one of the last to hear I was out of the selection for the WC1974.”

“The best memory I have is the international against Romania in 1970 in Amsterdam. We won 2-0 and we really gave these guys a lesson. We had quite a team then: Jan Mulder, Piet Keizer, Willem van Hanegem, Johan Cruyff. I loved playing with Johan. We were born in the same year. Both 23 years old but he was already a big boy. He organized everything, on the pitch and off. Someone like him gets born once every 50 years or so. I’ve never seen a player like him since.”

NOW
NOW

“I work as scout for Twente and see lots of games and players. I do this for 12 years now and combine it with a commercial job for FC Twente. I started in business after my career, opened a sports-shop like many more ex-players. I had two shops for 15 years. I worked for the local newspapers until Twente asked me to come work or them. That was not a touch choice. Twente is my big love. I never played anywhere else and didn’t want to either. Anderlecht came round for me in once but I lost a brother and I didn’t want to move away from my parents. I never regretted it.”

FUTURE

“Whenever I discuss Oranje, I always come back to my main motto: learn to use both legs! Some players still can’t! I think it’s crucial – and possible – for players to use both feet. It’s part of the job. Look at Sneijder. He can open up the game either way. Doesn’t need much time. Arjen Robben is a classic left winger. Great dribble, quick with his feet but I’ve only scored him with his right once. A good goal, I mean. Most players step around their weak leg and need too much time. I never interfered with my son Boudewijn’s career (he played professional for Twente and PSV), but I did train him to use both legs and he could do everything with both left and right. You can train it. Nothing to do with skill, but with training intensity.

I see all home games Oranje plays. This team can easily compete at the highest level. I think a final spot is possible. I’ve worked with Van Marwijk, we did the trainers’ course together. He’s good a good head on his shoulders and I think he can mould these great players into a great team. But luck is always a factor. Winning and losing are closely related. Look at Spain against the USA at the Confederation Cup. Unbelievable that the USA won that, but they did. Anything is possible on the big stage. We can beat Brazil, but a nation like – say – Turkey could also beat us. Which is what makes a WC special.”

Tags: Cruyff, FC Twente, Group C, Keizer, Oranje, Pahlplatz, Sneijder, Van Marwijk

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Comments

Displaying the most recent 25 comments from a total of 27 comments.

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By Jan | July 15th, 2009 at 3:36 am

Hey Alex …

Did you read the thunderous requests to appoint you as Ajax blogger on the Offside??

What do you think my man?

By OranjeRules | July 15th, 2009 at 4:30 am

Alex – You forgot Michael Rieziger, he was RB for Barca’s decade squad. I thought he was class! Great on throws, nice deep runs!

By Tiju | July 15th, 2009 at 4:34 am

Alex you are the most favorite for the job -man…Go ahead if was there i would have helped you in several ways.

Posted from India

By Tiju | July 15th, 2009 at 5:01 am

Out of topic
http://www.espnstar.com/football/premier-league/news/detail/item293666/Tevez:-Ferguson-never-contacted-me/
Carlos tevez and his rants on SAF.poor guy couldnt understand SAF.i think he forgot the matter the big “SIR” of SAF.

Posted from India

By Alex | July 15th, 2009 at 5:33 am

Writing on Ajax blog? it’s possible.

Posted from Netherlands

By Alex | July 15th, 2009 at 5:35 am

BTW, I missed Stam in Man United’s defence, he held their backline on his own for seasons, and then amongst the absolute best.

Posted from Netherlands

By Miguel Rosado | July 15th, 2009 at 7:58 am

SAF has had many problems with star players, to name a few: Stam, Beckham, Ruud, Roy Keane, Tevez.

By Carlos | July 15th, 2009 at 7:59 am

SAF has admitted his biggest mistake was letting Stam go. Stam now works for him as a south american scout.

Posted from Singapore

By Caleb | July 15th, 2009 at 9:13 am

I’d love to be a South American scout for Man U… that must be an awesome job!

Posted from Canada

By alaa | July 15th, 2009 at 1:32 pm

latest news talking about possible move to arsenal for huntelaar. that was what I wanted for him. see him partner with robin in the arsenal attack, wouldn’t it be awsome? and this way we all ornage fans root for arsenallllllllllllllll:):)
hope it is not just news in the papers but real deal. we will wait and see!!

By susanne | July 15th, 2009 at 1:49 pm

with you Alaa, that would be great, and I think would improve Huntelaar too.

Posted from Netherlands

By Igor | July 15th, 2009 at 3:24 pm

I’ve been reading those rumors as well (Huntelaar to Arsenal) which would be great for KJH, Oranje and Arsenal (one of my favourite teams), almost a prefect situation. However, I am skeptical that this deal will go through. I think that what arsenal needs and wants the most is a defensive midfielder, so i imagine that a large chunk of the money from Adebayor’s sale will go towards a DM and there might not be enough left over to buy KJH from madrid, especially since arsenal have also been linked with another striker (chamakh from Bordeaux) which would be a much cheaper alternative and more like Wenger’s style of buying unproven players (esp. from ligue 1) to try and turn them into established stars. But in the meantime, i’m holding my breath and hoping to see RVP and Huntelaar playing together next season and forming a great striking partnership just in time for the world cup.

Posted from Canada

By Jan | July 15th, 2009 at 4:35 pm

News today said Arsenal is not interested in Huntelaar and never was.

By Carlos | July 15th, 2009 at 5:18 pm

Jan – you really spoilt my day

Posted from Singapore

By Jan | July 15th, 2009 at 5:41 pm

And they don’t even pay me for it!

But, there’s a lot of conflicting stories. On other news sites, Wenger expressed his interest and all that, so who knows what’s going on?

It may be quite on the Madrilene front, but I think there’s heaps of frantic phone conversations, backroom chatter and emailing happening at the moment.

I read that ex-Ajax full back Maxwell might move to Barca! Great signing!

By ferenc | July 15th, 2009 at 5:57 pm

agree Jan,great signing! i really apreciated him at ajax. btw,with some of my friends we tried to figure out the team of the decade,2000-2010. my team is: buffon – cafu,nesta,cannavaro,roberto carlos – gattuso,xavi,seedorf,ronaldinho – rvn,eto’o

By OranjeRules | July 15th, 2009 at 7:22 pm

Roy Makaay voted to Bayern Munich’s all decade team. He was a great player but never got much of a chance to show it in Oranje.

By OranjeRules | July 15th, 2009 at 7:22 pm

Roy Makaay voted to Bayern Munich’s all decade team. He was a great player but never got much of a chance to show it in Oranje.

By Carlos | July 15th, 2009 at 8:45 pm

Re: Maxwell – I also liked him at Ajax – but he hardly made the Brazil team did he ? and he is 3rd back up for that position isn’t he ? after Silvinho ?

Posted from Singapore

By ferenc | July 16th, 2009 at 3:02 am

sylvinho left barca – end of contract.

By Alex | July 16th, 2009 at 5:16 am

I think a lot of former dutch players should be in the teams of the decade.
Bayern- Makaay
Man United- V.d.Sar, Stam, V.Nistelrooij
Arsenal- Bergkamp
Juventus- Davids
Barca- Reiziger, Gio
AC Milan- Seedorf
Chelsea- Melchiot, Hasselbaink

Looking at this list, I only know realise what massive players we had back then, V.Persie and Co, still have to earn that respect, as do Heitinga, Braafheid, and V.d.Wiel I’m so hoping Vlaar or anyone for that matter will become Jaap Stam 2.0

BTW, AC Milan are in a deadlock in negotiations about Luis Fabiano, so Huntelaar might come back in the picture there.

Posted from Netherlands

By Jan | July 16th, 2009 at 5:39 am

Interesting…that Huntelaar news. I can’t see him at Milan though. I think The Hunter is ideal for England. But is he Man United/Chelsea/Arsenal material?? Or does he belong at Spurs level?

By finnster01 | July 16th, 2009 at 6:56 am

@Jan: Completely agree on the great fit for the Prem comment. He would be perfect for Arsenal now that Adebuymeformore is City bound. And linking up with VanPersie on a regular basis can not be anything but positive.

He would not be perfect for Chelsea as Drogba and Anelka will give him the same problem he already has. Same at Man Utd. Liverpool only play with one striker and no one is taking playing time from Torres.

Behind Arsenal, Spurs is a possibility but this year will not play in Europe which is a problem for me. Everton is a much better choice IMO. He would be a genuine star there, great manager, play in Europe. Lets not forget quite a few people started their illustrious Prem careers at Everton, including Rooney.

By Caleb | July 16th, 2009 at 8:58 am

My favourite would still be Arsenal (although I can’t really see Arsene going for it, unfortunately), but I agree with Finnster that Everton would be a pretty good move too. They have a solid team but really lack a decent fit striker – Huntelaar could be that striker they need. And they will be playing in Europe.

Posted from Canada

By Miguel Rosado | July 16th, 2009 at 10:14 am

Huntelaar deserves to be amongst the best. He has had bad luck with his previous coaches.
1) Marco Van Basten. He had an amazing season just before the WC ‘06 and Marco didn’t include Huntelaar in the 23 squad. Then during EC ‘08 he only played against Romania and when needed (vs Russia) Marco decided to field Afellay.
2) Juande Ramos. He had a very good period last year with Madrid they even compared him to Ruud and suddenly Juande started to take him off with 30′ left to play and now they buy Benzema.

Huntelaar can be the best striker. Mark my words.

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