Biography
Who is Wim Kieft?
Early life and football beginnings
Wim Kieft was born in Amsterdam, Netherlands. He started his professional football path with the local club Ajax. His first team debut occurred on May 4, 1980, while he was still a teenager. During his early years at Ajax, he played alongside established stars like Johan Cruijff, Søren Lerby, and Ruud Krol.
He quickly established himself as an effective goal scorer. In the 1981–82 season, he scored 32 goals across 32 matches. This performance helped Ajax secure the Eredivisie title. His scoring record during this period earned him the European Golden Boot award.
International career and trophies
Wim Kieft represented the Netherlands on the international stage, earning his first cap in 1981. He was a member of the squad that won the UEFA European Championship in 1988. During that tournament, he scored a header in the 82nd minute against the Republic of Ireland, which secured a semi-final spot for his team.
He also participated in the 1990 FIFA World Cup and Euro 1992. Throughout his international career, he played in three major tournaments. He often contributed as a substitute, providing tactical depth for the Dutch national team during these high-stakes competitions.
Club career abroad and return to PSV
At age 20, he moved to Italy to join Pisa SC. His time in the Italian league included a relegation-ending campaign, although he helped the team gain promotion to Serie A. He later played for Torino FC before returning to the Netherlands in the summer of 1987 to sign with PSV Eindhoven.
His return to Dutch football was highly successful. PSV won the treble in 1988, including the European Cup. He scored in the penalty shootout against Benfica to help secure the trophy. He also spent time playing for FC Girondins de Bordeaux in France before concluding his playing career back at PSV.
Post-retirement work and personal life
After retiring from professional football, Wim transitioned into a career as a television pundit. He worked for channels including Sport1, RTL, Ziggo Sport, and Talpa. He became a familiar face on the football talk show Voetbal Inside. Later, he returned to the show under its new name, Veronica Inside.
In 2014, he published a biography that addressed his personal challenges. In this book, he admitted to a long-lasting addiction to alcohol and cocaine. He noted that these struggles began after his playing career ended. He eventually sought and completed withdrawal treatment.
Birthday and age
Wim Kieft was born on November 12, 1962, which makes Wim 64 years old today. That birthday falls under the Scorpio sign. Wim shares the date with 64 other famous people.
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