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]

Pim Doesburg
Doesburg in 1967
Personal information
Full name Willem Doesburg
Date of birth (1943-10-28)28 October 1943
Place of birth Rotterdam, Netherlands
Date of death 18 November 2020(2020-11-18) (aged 77)
Place of death Berkel en Rodenrijs, Netherlands
Height 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1962–1967 Sparta 137 (0)
1967–1970 PSV Eindhoven 93 (0)
1970–1980 Sparta 334 (0)
1980–1987 PSV Eindhoven 123 (0)
Total 687 (0)
International career
1967–1981 Netherlands 8 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club career

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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

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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

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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

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Sparta

PSV Eindhoven

References

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  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.
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