Kees Smit
Personal information
Date of birth (2006-01-21) 21 January 2006
Place of birth Heiloo
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Jong AZ
Youth career
0000–2023 AZ Alkmaar
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2023– Jong AZ 3 (0)
International career
2021 Netherlands U16 1 (0)
Netherlands U17
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 00:15, 17 March 2023 (UTC)

Kees Smit (born 21 January 2006) is a Dutch footballer who plays for Jong AZ in the Eerste Divisie as a midfielder.[1]

Career

From Heiloo, Smit joined the academy at AZ Alkmaar at nine years-old in 2015. He then became the youngest member of their under-12 squad.[2] After progressing through the ranks at AZ, he signed a three and-a-half year professional contract in January 2021.[3][4]

In December 2022, Smit was included with the first team squad on their mid-season break travelling training party to Valencia, Spain.[5] In January 2023, a goal Smit scored in a five-a-side indoor game went viral due to its unusual nature, as he beat the outrushing goalkeeper with shot rebounded from the side wall.[6][7][8] Later that month, Smit made his professional debut for Jong AZ in the Eerste Divisie in a home match against Helmond Sport, on January 23, 2023.[9][10]

With AZ under-19s playing in the UEFA Youth League he was part of the team that beat Barcelona and Real Madrid on consecutive rounds to reach the semi-finals in March 2023.[11][12][13] Smit scored a long range goal in the UEFA Youth League last-sixteen tie against Barcelona that brought praise.[14][15][16] He also played in the UEFA Youth League final against Hajduk Split as AZ ran out 5-0 winners.[17]

International career

In November 2021, Smit played for the Netherlands national under-16 football team against the Belgian under-16s.[18] Smit has since been selected for the Dutch U17s.[19][20]

References

  1. ↑ "Kees Smit". Soccerway. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Speler van de Maand: Kees Smit". az.nl. November 18, 2022. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  3. ↑ "Kees Smit signs first contract with AZ". deforesters.nl. February 2021. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  4. ↑ "AZ bindt Smit". January 29, 2021. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  5. ↑ "AZ geeft talenten weer de kans: zestienjarige mee op trainingskamp". vi.nl. December 17, 2022. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  6. ↑ "AZ jeugdspeler Smit steelt show bij 5 tegen 5-toernooi met déze slimme goal". sportnieuws.nl. January 9, 2023. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  7. ↑ "Smit rough edges Brilliant goal from Alkmaar youth player in the hall". 11freunde.de. January 9, 2023. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  8. ↑ Hörmann, Daniel (January 9, 2023). "Video: Freches Tor über Bande bei Jugendhallenturnier". Fumsmagazin. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  9. ↑ Brinkman, Erik -Jan (January 27, 2023). "Double feeling for Young AZ talent Kees Smit after special week: "Boy's dream"". nhnieuws.nl. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  10. ↑ "AZ II VS. HELMOND 1-1". Soccerway. January 23, 2023. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  11. ↑ "Daniël Beukers klopt met AZ Barcelona". March 2, 2023. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
  12. ↑ "El AZ Alkmaar repite la misma receta para dejar fuera al Madrid". besoccer.com. March 16, 2023. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
  13. ↑ "Lewis Schouten en Daniël Breukers smaakmakers bij Youth League/sensatie". telegraaf.nl. March 16, 2023. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
  14. ↑ "Youth League: The incredible goal of the central circle of Kees Smit which surprises Barça!". beinsports.com. March 1, 2023. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  15. ↑ Van Poppel, Jeroen (March 1, 2023). "Kees Smit enchants Johan Cruijff stadium with an unparalleled goal against Barcelona". Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  16. ↑ "Wondergoal! AZ-talent Kees Smit (17) schiet vanuit middencirkel raak tegen FC Barcelona in Youth League". sportnieuws.nl. March 1, 2023. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  17. ↑ "UEFA Youth League final report: AZ Alkmaar 5-0 Hajduk Split". UEFA.com. April 24, 2023. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
  18. ↑ "Oefeninterlands, seizoen 2021/22". onsoranje.nl. November 23, 2021. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  19. ↑ Fleming, Connor (January 8, 2023). "This is one of the most satisfyingly inventive indoor goals ever". the18.com. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  20. ↑ "Update: zeven AZ'ers in voorlopige selectie Oranje Onder 17". az.nl. March 4, 2023. Retrieved March 17, 2023.


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