Theo Snelders
Encyclopedia
Theodorus Antonius Gerardus Snelders (born December 7, 1963 in Westervoort
, Gelderland
) is a former Dutch
footballer who played as a goalkeeper.
but is mostly remembered in Scotland
especially for Aberdeen
. He had a very good first season at Pittodrie
, winning the Scottish PFA Players' Player of the Year
in 1989. He saved Anton Rogan's penalty in Aberdeen's penalty shootout win over Celtic
in the 1990 Scottish Cup Final
.
He was a successful replacement for Jim Leighton
but moved on to rivals Rangers
in 1996. He made just 20 appearances for the club before he was released in 1999. He played two seasons at MVV before he retired from playing and is a goalkeeping coach in his native Netherlands
with FC Twente
.
Westervoort
Westervoort is a municipality and a town in the eastern Netherlands. The town has two rivers inside its borders, the Rhine and the IJssel. It is a forensic town closely linked to Arnhem, the capital of Gelderland, which is situated on the west bank of the IJssel river, the east bank being occupied...
, Gelderland
Gelderland
Gelderland is the largest province of the Netherlands, located in the central eastern part of the country. The capital city is Arnhem. The two other major cities, Nijmegen and Apeldoorn have more inhabitants. Other major regional centers in Gelderland are Ede, Doetinchem, Zutphen, Tiel, Wijchen,...
) is a former Dutch
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...
footballer who played as a goalkeeper.
Career
Snelders started his career with FC TwenteFC Twente
FC Twente is a Dutch professional football club from the city of Enschede, playing in the Eredivisie. The club was formed in 1965 by the merger of 1926 Eredivisie Champions, Sportclub Enschede and Enschedese Boys...
but is mostly remembered in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
especially for Aberdeen
Aberdeen F.C.
Aberdeen Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Aberdeen...
. He had a very good first season at Pittodrie
Pittodrie Stadium
Pittodrie Stadium is an all-seated football stadium situated in the Scottish city of Aberdeen. It was first used in 1899 and from 1903 has been the home of Aberdeen Football Club...
, winning the Scottish PFA Players' Player of the Year
Scottish PFA Players' Player of the Year
The Scottish Professional Footballers' Association Players' Player of the Year is an annual award given to the player who is adjudged to have been the best of the season in Scottish football...
in 1989. He saved Anton Rogan's penalty in Aberdeen's penalty shootout win over Celtic
Celtic F.C.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...
in the 1990 Scottish Cup Final
1990 Scottish Cup Final
The 1990 Scottish Cup Final was played on May 12, 1990 at Hampden Park in Glasgow and was the final of the 115th Scottish Cup. The final was contested by Aberdeen and Celtic. Aberdeen won the match 9–8 on penalties after the match finished 0–0 following extra time.-Match details:-Road to the...
.
He was a successful replacement for Jim Leighton
Jim Leighton
James "Jim" Leighton MBE is a Scottish former football goalkeeper. Among the clubs he played for are Aberdeen , Manchester United, Arsenal, Dundee and Hibernian.-Club:...
but moved on to rivals Rangers
Rangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
in 1996. He made just 20 appearances for the club before he was released in 1999. He played two seasons at MVV before he retired from playing and is a goalkeeping coach in his native Netherlands
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...
with FC Twente
FC Twente
FC Twente is a Dutch professional football club from the city of Enschede, playing in the Eredivisie. The club was formed in 1965 by the merger of 1926 Eredivisie Champions, Sportclub Enschede and Enschedese Boys...
.