Pierre van Hooijdonk

Petrus Ferdinandus Johannes "Pierre" van Hooijdonk (born 29 November 1969) is a retired Dutch football player who played as a striker. His last spell was at Feyenoord Rotterdam. Van Hooijdonk was capped 46 times for the Dutch national team, scoring 21 goals, and played in the 1998 FIFA World Cup, Euro 2000 and Euro 2004. He was noted for his spectacular free kicks.

Biography

Early years

As a child, Van Hooijdonk who was born in Steenbergen lived in a small village nearby named Welberg. While playing in one of SC Welberg's youth squads he became familiar with the sport. His favourite team was NAC Breda and he was already watching their games at a young age. When he was 11 years old he took part in a talent pool on the open day of the team and he impressed the NAC scouts. He was asked to join NAC, which he did and played mainly as a right midfielder. When he was 14 he was told he was not good enough for NAC and he switched to amateur side . Here he switched to the striker position and he would play five years for the team, of which the last two seasons in their first team. His performances at were noticed by RBC Roosendaal scout Tiny van Dijk and he was brought into the team at amateur level.

Club career

First steps in professional football

As RBC were facing financial trouble in these days they were forced to use youth players faster than other teams and in the 1988-89 season Van Hooijdonk was brought in as a...
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