Kay Kirsten Evert Smits (born 31 March 1997) is a Dutch handball player for SG Flensburg-Handewitt and the Dutch national team.
| Kay Smits | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 | |||
| Personal information | |||
| Full name | Kay Kirsten Evert Smits | ||
| Born |
31 March 1997 Geleen, Netherlands | ||
| Nationality | Dutch | ||
| Height | 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) | ||
| Playing position | Right back | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | SG Flensburg-Handewitt | ||
| Number | 33 | ||
| Senior clubs | |||
| Years | Team | ||
2014–2016 | Limburg Lions | ||
2016–2018 | Wilhelmshavener HV | ||
2018–2021 | TTH Holstebro | ||
2020 | → SC Magdeburg (loan) | ||
2021–2023 | SC Magdeburg | ||
2023– | SG Flensburg-Handewitt | ||
| National team | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2016– | Netherlands | 80 | (368) |
He is the first ever men's player of the Netherlands to win the EHF Champions League, Europe's most important club competition with SC Magdeburg in 2022/2023.
He represented the Netherlands at the 2022 and 2020 European Men's Handball Championship and the 2023 World Men's Handball Championship. Smits had to withdraw for the 2024 EHF Euro's due to inflammation of his heart muscle.[1][2]
Although Kay Smits is still an active player, he is already considered as the best Dutch right back ever. His father Gino Smits, sister Inger and brother Jorn are also international handball players for the Netherlands. [3]
Honours
edit- EHF Champions League:
Gold: 2023
- Handball-Bundesliga:
- Gold: 2022
- DHB-Pokal:
- EHF European League:
Silver: 2022
- IHF Super Globe:
- Dutch Championship:
- Gold: 2015, 2016
- Dutch Handball Cup:
- Gold: 2015, 2016
- BENE-League:
- Gold: 2015
References
edit- ^ "Richardsson maakt definitieve EK-selectie bekend". heren.handbal.nl. 5 January 2020.
- ^ "2020 European Men's Handball Championship squad" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 June 2021. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
- ^ De genen van handbalfamilie Smits: 'Later beseffen we hoe bijzonder dit is' Archived 2021-01-28 at the Wayback Machine, NOS, 19 January 2021
