Folkert Velten (born 25 August 1964) is a Dutch former professional football player and coach. A forward, he spent most of his career with Heracles Almelo.[2]

Folkert Velten
Personal information
Date of birth (1964-08-25) 25 August 1964 (age 60)
Place of birth Enter, Netherlands[1]
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Enter Vooruit
1988–1997 Heracles Almelo
Managerial career
VV Bergentheim
Blauw Wit'66
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career

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After playing amateur football for Enter Vooruit, he turned professional at the age of 23 after signing with Heracles Almelo.[3] He had previously been offered a contract by the club at the age of 18, but he declined as matches were played on Sundays and this conflicted with his Christian beliefs.[4] Between 1988 and 1997 he scored 221 goals in 377 games for the club.[3] The club moved their games to Saturdays so he could play.[4] He was top scorer in the Eerste Divisie in 1989.[3] He retired from playing after breaking his leg.[3]

Later life

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After working as a scout for Heracles, he became a football coach, managing amateur team VV Bergentheim in 2008.[3] In 2012, he worked in the maintenance department at a petting zoo in Enter, and was coach of amateur team Blauw Wit'66.[5]

Personal life

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A practising Christian, Velten refused to play football on Sundays.[3] A member of the Dutch Reformed Church, as a child his father wanted him to go to church twice on Sundays.[4] Velten only went once, in the morning, because he would watch and play football in the evening with his siblings.[4]

References

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  1. ^ 'Als ik al die koptelefoons zie, zakt me de broek af', interview at Voetbal International, 2015
  2. ^ Folkert Velten at WorldFootball.net
  3. ^ a b c d e f "Folkert Velten; Gij zult niet scoren op zondag" (in Dutch). Doordebenen. 24 June 2008. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  4. ^ a b c d "Folkert Velten: "Nooit op zondag, alleen op zaterdag"" (in Dutch). Siekmann. 22 September 2014. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  5. ^ "Folkert Velten kijkt bekerfinale thuis" (in Dutch). Nu. 6 April 2012. Retrieved 17 October 2015.