Jan van Beveren
Encyclopedia
Jan van Beveren was a Dutch
football goalkeeper who played 32 caps
for the Dutch National Team
during the late 1960s and the 1970s.
He played professional club football for Sparta Rotterdam
and PSV Eindhoven. With the latter team he won two domestic cups
, three domestic championships
, and, in 1978, the UEFA Cup.
Although he "was considered by far the best Dutch goalkeeper of the '70s", he did not play in the 1974 FIFA World Cup
(due to injury), nor in the 1976 European Football Championships and 1978 FIFA World Cup
(due to a long feud with Johan Cruijff).
In 1980 he moved to the United States, where he played for the Fort Lauderdale Strikers (NASL), and the Dallas Sidekicks
(MISL). Sports Illustrated
described him in a 1982 article as the NASL
's top goalie
After retiring, Van Beveren opted to stay in the US, though he remained a Dutch citizen. He ran a stamp store
in Houston, Texas
and was the goalkeeping coach of, among others, the Dallas Texans Soccer Club
. In 2010, Mart Smeets
produced a timely portrait of Van Beveren for the NOS
for Dutch television. At the time of this interview and of his death at the age of 63 he was the Director of Training for Spindletop Select in Beaumont, Texas
, coaching about a dozen youth teams.
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
football goalkeeper who played 32 caps
Cap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
for the Dutch National Team
Netherlands national football team
The Netherlands National Football Team represents the Netherlands in association football and is controlled by the Royal Dutch Football Association , the governing body for football in the Netherlands...
during the late 1960s and the 1970s.
He played professional club football for Sparta Rotterdam
Sparta Rotterdam
Sparta Rotterdam is the oldest professional football team in the Netherlands, established on April 1, 1888. Sparta is one of three professional football clubs from Rotterdam, the others being Excelsior and Feyenoord , the latter playing in the Eredivisie.-History:Sparta was first founded in 1887....
and PSV Eindhoven. With the latter team he won two domestic cups
KNVB Cup
The KNVB Cup is a competition in the Netherlands organized by the Royal Dutch Football Association since 1899. It was based on the format of the English FA Cup. Outside of the Netherlands, it is often referred to as the Dutch Cup...
, three domestic championships
Eredivisie
The Eredivisie is the highest football league in the Netherlands. The league was founded in 1956 two years after the start of professional football in the Netherlands. It is currently ranked the ninth best league in Europe by UEFA....
, and, in 1978, the UEFA Cup.
Although he "was considered by far the best Dutch goalkeeper of the '70s", he did not play in the 1974 FIFA World Cup
1974 FIFA World Cup
The 1974 FIFA World Cup, the tenth staging of the World Cup, was held in West Germany from 13 June to 7 July. The tournament marked the first time that the current trophy, the FIFA World Cup Trophy, created by the Italian sculptor Silvio Gazzaniga, was awarded...
(due to injury), nor in the 1976 European Football Championships and 1978 FIFA World Cup
1978 FIFA World Cup
The 1978 FIFA World Cup, the 11th staging of the FIFA World Cup, was held in Argentina between 1 June and 25 June. The 1978 World Cup was won by Argentina who beat the Netherlands 3–1 after extra time in the final. This win was the first World Cup title for Argentina, who became the fifth...
(due to a long feud with Johan Cruijff).
In 1980 he moved to the United States, where he played for the Fort Lauderdale Strikers (NASL), and the Dallas Sidekicks
Dallas Sidekicks
The Dallas Sidekicks were one of the longest operating professional soccer teams, either indoor or outdoor, in the United States, based in Dallas, Texas, and operating from 1984 until suspending operations following the 2004 season. The team was founded as a member of the original Major Indoor...
(MISL). Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
described him in a 1982 article as the NASL
NASL
- Soccer :* North American Soccer League, a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.* North American Soccer League , a professional men's soccer league in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico which began play in 2011.- Starcraft II...
's top goalie
After retiring, Van Beveren opted to stay in the US, though he remained a Dutch citizen. He ran a stamp store
Stamp collecting
Stamp collecting is the collecting of postage stamps and related objects. It is one of the world's most popular hobbies, with the number of collectors in the United States alone estimated to be over 20 million.- Collecting :...
in Houston, Texas
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
and was the goalkeeping coach of, among others, the Dallas Texans Soccer Club
Dallas Texans Soccer Club
Dallas Texans Soccer Club is one of the top youth soccer clubs in the United States. Founded in 1993 by Hassan Nazari, the club has produced many players who have played professionally at various levels in the U.S. and overseas, including US National Team Star Clint Dempsey...
. In 2010, Mart Smeets
Mart Smeets
Martinus Jan Smeets is a Dutch radio and television personality, writer, and columnist.-Television:Mart Smeets is a long-time sports presenter and commentator with the Dutch public broadcaster NOS...
produced a timely portrait of Van Beveren for the NOS
Nederlandse Omroep Stichting
The Nederlandse Omroep Stichting , English: Netherlands Broadcasting Foundation, is one of the broadcasters in the Netherlands Public Broadcasting system...
for Dutch television. At the time of this interview and of his death at the age of 63 he was the Director of Training for Spindletop Select in Beaumont, Texas
Beaumont, Texas
Beaumont is a city in and county seat of Jefferson County, Texas, United States, within the Beaumont–Port Arthur Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city's population was 118,296 at the 2010 census. With Port Arthur and Orange, it forms the Golden Triangle, a major industrial area on the...
, coaching about a dozen youth teams.