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Former Dutch goalie Van Beveren passes away

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-06-27 17:23
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THE HAGUE - Former Dutch goal keeper Jan van Beveren passed away at the age of 63 on Sunday in his residence Houston, United States, his family announced.

Van Beveren had played for VV Emmen, Sparta Rotterdam and PSV in the Netherlands and finished his career in 1985 after having played for American clubs Fort Lauderdale Strikers and Dallas Sidekicks. He was capped 32 times for the Dutch national team.

The former shot stopper could have made more appearances for the Netherlands, but due to injury he missed out on the 1974 World Cup and just before the European Championships 1976 in Yugoslavia he walked away after a disagreement over an alleged preferred position of Johan Cruijff. He withdrew from the 1978 World Cup because he refused a reserve role.

In Monday's newspaper De Telegraaf Cruijff reacted on the death on his former teammate in his weekly column.

"Like many football fans, I was completely overwhelmed by the news that Jan van Beveren deceased," said Cruijff. "Jan was technically one of the best goalkeepers we've ever had. Someone with a very personal style."

Van Beveren was most successful with PSV, capturing three league titles in 1975, 1976 and 1978, twice the Dutch Cup in 1974 and 1976 and the UEFA Cup in 1978.

"He was a phenomenon as a player and was one of the best goal keepers of all time," could be read in a statement on the PSV website.

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