Erik Pieters

Erik Pieters

Pieters with PSV Eindhoven in 2011
Personal information
Full name Erik Pieters[1]
Date of birth (1988-08-07) 7 August 1988
Place of birth Tiel, Gelderland, Netherlands
Height 1.84 m (6 ft 1⁄2 in)[2]
Playing position Left back
Club information
Current team
 Stoke City
Number 3
Youth career
2000–2004 VV Rhelico
2004–2006 Utrecht
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2006–2008 Utrecht 51 (2)
2008–2013 PSV Eindhoven 93 (0)
2013– Stoke City 115 (1)
National team‡
2004–2006 Netherlands U17 5 (0)
2006–2007 Netherlands U19 3 (0)
2007–2010 Netherlands U21 19 (1)
2010– Netherlands 18 (0)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 20:31, 3 December 2016 (UTC).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 4 September 2014

Erik Pieters (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈeː.rɪk ˈpi.tərs]) (born 7 August 1988) is a Dutch footballer who plays as a left back for Premier League club Stoke City and the Dutch national team.

Pieters began his career with Utrecht and made his professional debut in August 2006. He impressed enough at the Stadion Galgenwaard to earn a move to PSV Eindhoven in July 2008 for €2.5 million. At PSV he won the Johan Cruijff Shield in 2008 and the KNVB Beker in 2011–12 and also became a regular member of the Dutch national team. Injuries hampered his progress in 2012–13 before he moved to English side Stoke City in June 2013 for €3.6 million.

Career

Early career

Born in Tiel, Pieters grew up in Enspijk and started as a central midfielder in the juvenile ranks of VV Rhelico in Rumpt.[3] There he was scouted by FC Utrecht and, after a trial period, he joined the Utrecht youth academy.[3]

Utrecht

Pieters made his Eredivisie debut for Utrecht in a 2–1 defeat against Willem II and went on to make 29 appearances in his maiden season as Utrecht finished the 2006–07 season in 9th position and they went on to win in the Intertoto Cup play-offs.[3] In the 2007–08 season, Pieters made his European debut in July in the Intertoto Cup.[3] He made 35 appearances and scored twice against Willem II and FC Groningen as Utrecht finished in 10th position. His solid performances attracted the interest of PSV Eindhoven.[4]

PSV Eindhoven

On 9 July 2008, it was confirmed that Eredivisie champions PSV Eindhoven had signed the left back for reportedly €2.5 million.[5] Pieters was given the number 14 shirt, which was previously worn by Slobodan Rajković.[6][7] He made his PSV debut in the league against his former club in a 5–1 win. His UEFA Champions League debut came in September against Atlético Madrid. After a bright start to his PSV career, he was benched after some indifferent performances. In 2008–09 Pieters played 23 times for PSV as they finished in 4th position, winning the 2008 Johan Cruijff Schaal by beating Feyenoord 2–0.

The following season, Pieters regained his place in the starting eleven and played his part as PSV went on an unbeaten run for the last two months leading up to the winter break. His season was interrupted by a knee injury sustained while on international duty and he returned to within two weeks.[8] The 2009–10 campaign saw PSV finish in 3rd position and reach the round of 32 in the UEFA Europa League. Pieters played 48 times in 2010–11 as PSV came close to reclaiming the Dutch title, finishing third four points off champions Ajax and he also helped PSV beat Feynoord 10–0.[9] The 2011–12 season saw Pieters struggle with a fractured metatarsal and played 25 times before deciding to undergo foot surgery.[10]

He made his return from injury in a league match against PEC Zwolle on 18 January 2013 after a nine-month lay-off, and with PSV losing 3–1 Pieters was sent-off for a foul on Fred Benson. Such was Pieters' anger that he ran down the players entrance and punched a window, badly cutting his arm and was ruled out for a further three months.[11] He returned in the top-of the table clash with Ajax towards the end of the 2012–13 season, replacing Jetro Willems after 73 minutes. A mix up with Pieters and PSV goalkeeper Boy Waterman allowed Derk Boerrigter to scoring the winning goal and Ajax went on to win the Eredivise.[12]

Stoke City

Pieters signed for English club Stoke City on 28 June 2013 on a four-year contract for a fee of €3.6 million (£3 million).[13][14] After agreeing to join Stoke, Pieters revealed that his main ambition was to play in England. — "Of course, I've always wanted to play in the Premier League. It's one of the hardest competitions to play in with some great players and teams and I'm really excited about it. I'm really looking forward to playing for this Club. It's important for me that the first impression is good and I've got a great feeling about Stoke City."[15] He made his debut for Stoke on 17 August 2013 in a 1–0 defeat against Liverpool.[16][17] Pieters scored his first goal for Stoke on 12 April 2014 in a 1–0 win over Newcastle United after his intended cross beat Tim Krul.[18][19] Pieters played 39 times for Stoke in 2013–14 as they finished in ninth position in the Premier League.[20]

Pieters retained his place at left-back under Hughes in 2014–15, playing in 32 matches as Stoke finished in ninth position.[21] Stoke suffered a number of defensive injuries during the season with Pieters suffering from a groin injury.[22] Stoke ended the campaign with a 6–1 victory against Liverpool.[23] Pieters signed a contract extension in December 2015, keeping him contracted at the club until 2020.[24] Pieters played 41 times for Stoke in 2015–16 as the Potters again finished ninth.[25] At the end of the season Opta Sports revealed that Pieters made more tackles then any other defender in the Premier League during the campaign.[26]

International career

Pieters in action for the Netherlands national team

Pieters played five matches for the Netherlands at the 2005 FIFA U-17 World Championship where they reached the semi-finals.[27][28] In 2007 Pieters was called up by Netherlands U-21 coach Foppe de Haan to be part of his squad for the 2007 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship held in the Netherlands. Pieters did not play in their first round group match against Israel (1–0 win), but did come on as a substitute in the second match against Portugal (2–1 win) to secure a semi final spot and to qualify for the 2008 Summer Olympics.

In the semi finals against England (1–1, 13–12 after 32 penalty kicks) Pieters played in the starting eleven, but was later substituted by Tim Janssen to improve the attack as well as due to a small injury. Pieters returned on the pitch and the Dutch went on to retain their 2006 title by beating Serbia 4–1 in the final. On 7 May 2012, Pieters was named in the provisional list of 36 players for the Euro 2012 tournament, but he did not recover in time for the competition due to a foot injury. PSV team member Jetro Willems replaced him in the Euro 2012 squad.

Style of play

Pieters' natural position is at left back and describes himself as an attacking fullback and is also capable of playing as a centre back if required.[15] "My first job is to defend but I always want to attack and contribute as much as I can for the team. I’ve played a couple of times in the centre of defence as well but left back is my position."[15]

Personal life

In April 2015, Pieters avoided a speeding conviction due to a legal loophole.[29]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 3 December 2016[30]
Club Season League Cup League Cup Europe Other[A] Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Utrecht 2006–07[31] Eredivisie 20030——60290
2007–08[32] Eredivisie 31210—1020352
Total 51240—1080642
PSV Eindhoven 2008–09[33] Eredivisie 17020—3010230
2009–10[34] Eredivisie 27040—110—420
2010–11[35] Eredivisie 31040—130—480
2011–12[36] Eredivisie 16020—70—250
2012–13[37] Eredivisie 2000—00—20
Total 930120—340101400
Stoke City 2013–14[20] Premier League 3612010——391
2014–15[21] Premier League 3100010——320
2015–16[25] Premier League 3501050——410
2016–17[38] Premier League 1300020——150
Total 11513090——1271
Career total 259319090350903313
A. ^ The "Other" column constitutes appearances and goals in the Eredivisie play-offs.

International

As of match played 4 September 2014[30][39]
National teamYearAppsGoals
Netherlands
201050
201190
201210
201320
201410
Total180

Honours

PSV Eindhoven
Netherlands

References

  1. ↑ "Barclays Premier League Squad Numbers 2013/14". Premier League. 16 August 2013. Retrieved 17 August 2013.
  2. ↑ "Premier League Player Profile Erik Pieters". Premier League. Barclays Premier League. 2015. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Pieters In Profile". Stoke City F.C. Retrieved 29 June 2013.
  4. ↑ RTV Utrecht – voor stad en provincie Utrecht
  5. ↑ "Pieters akkoord met PSV" (in Dutch). De Telegraaf. 10 July 2008.
  6. ↑ Voetbal International – Pieters is rond met PSV, clubs zijn dicht bij akkoord
  7. ↑ Voetbal International – Utrecht en PSV zijn akkoord: Pieters naar Eindhoven
  8. ↑ "Knieblessure PSV'er Pieters valt mee" (in Dutch). De Pers. 4 March 2010.
  9. ↑ "PSV hammer 10 goals past sorry Feyenoord". BBC Sport. 24 October 2010. Retrieved 29 June 2013.
  10. ↑ "Erik Pieters to undergo foot surgery". PSV.nl. Retrieved 29 June 2013.
  11. ↑ Jones, Simon (19 January 2013). "PSV defender slices arm open punching window in rage after red card (and he had just returned from nine months out!)". Daily Mail. London. Retrieved 28 June 2013.
  12. ↑ "PSV 2-3 Ajax: Eriksen's influence helps Ajax attack down the wings". Zonal marking. Retrieved 29 June 2013.
  13. ↑ "Pieters A Potter". Stoke City F.C. Retrieved 28 June 2013.
  14. ↑ "Stoke City sign Erik Pieters from PSV Eindhoven for £3m". BBC Sport. Retrieved 28 June 2013.
  15. 1 2 3 "Erik's English Adventure". Stoke City F.C. Retrieved 28 June 2013.
  16. ↑ "Liverpool 1-0 Stoke". BBC Sport. Retrieved 17 August 2013.
  17. ↑ "Stoke City: We could have got a point - Erik Pieters". BBC Sport. Retrieved 21 August 2013.
  18. ↑ "Stoke 1-0 Newcastle". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 April 2014.
  19. ↑ "Erik Pieters relishing first goal against his best friend in football, Tim Krul". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
  20. 1 2 "Matches played by Erik Pieters in 2013/14". Soccerbase. Retrieved 20 October 2013.
  21. 1 2 "Matches played by Erik Pieters in 2014/15". Soccerbase. Retrieved 20 October 2013.
  22. ↑ "Erik Pieters hails job well done in season full of injuries". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 26 May 2015.
  23. ↑ "Stoke 6-1 Liverpool". BBC Sport. Retrieved 25 May 2015.
  24. ↑ "EXCLUSIVE: ERIK IS IN FOR THE LONG HAUL". Stoke City. Retrieved 26 December 2015.
  25. 1 2 "Matches played by Erik Pieters in 2015/16". Soccerbase. Retrieved 20 October 2013.
  26. ↑ "Erik Pieters made more tackles in 2015/16 than any other Premier League defender". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  27. ↑ Vickery, Tim (24 September 2005). "Dutch end Gambia's dream in Peru". BBC Sport. Retrieved 28 June 2013.
  28. ↑ "Erik Pieters". FIFA. Retrieved 28 June 2013.
  29. ↑ "Stoke City star Erik Pieters cleared of speeding due to legal loophole". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 26 May 2015.
  30. 1 2 "Erik Pieters Voetbal International profile". Voetbal International.
  31. ↑ "Pieters 2006/07". VI.nl. Retrieved 30 June 2013.
  32. ↑ "Pieters 2007/08". VI.nl. Retrieved 30 June 2013.
  33. ↑ "Pieters 2008/09". VI.nl. Retrieved 30 June 2013.
  34. ↑ "Pieters 2009/10". VI.nl. Retrieved 30 June 2013.
  35. ↑ "Pieters 2010/11". VI.nl. Retrieved 30 June 2013.
  36. ↑ "Pieters 2011/12". VI.nl. Retrieved 30 June 2013.
  37. ↑ "Pieters 2012/13". VI.nl. Retrieved 30 June 2013.
  38. ↑ "Matches played by Erik Pieters in 2016/17". Soccerbase. Retrieved 13 August 2016.
  39. ↑ "Pieters, Erik". National-Football-Teams. Retrieved 7 September 2015.
  40. ↑ "Netherlands 4-1 Serbia". UEFA. Retrieved 8 September 2014.
  41. ↑ "FIFA U-17 World Championship Peru 2005 - Netherlands 2:1 (1:0) Turkey". FIFA. 2 October 2005. Retrieved 21 August 2014.
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