Hans van Breukelen

Personal information
Full name	Johannes Franciscus van Breukelen
Date of birth	October 4, 1956 (1956-10-04) (age 53)
Place of birth	Utrecht, Netherlands
Height	1.79 m (5 ft 10+1⁄2 in)
Playing position	Goalkeeper
Club information
Current club	Retired
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1976–1982	FC Utrecht	142	(0)
1982–1984	Nottingham Forest	61	(0)
1984–1994	PSV	308	(0)
National team
1980–1992	Netherlands	73	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

Johannes Franciscus "Hans" van Breukelen (born October 4, 1956 in Utrecht) is a former footballer from the Netherlands.

Van Breukelen was a goalkeeper for PSV Eindhoven and the Dutch national team during the 1980s. His professional debut came for FC Utrecht in March 1977, and he became their first-choice keeper in the 1978–79 season, helping them to a KNVB Cup final in 1982.

After playing well he was called up to the national team, making his debut against Germany in October 11, 1980. Two years later, in September 1982, he was bought by English team Nottingham Forest for £200 000 as a replacement for Peter Shilton. Keeping a clean sheet in his debut, things went well for van Breukelen, until he sustained an injury which sidelined him for almost four months. Having recovered from the injury towards the end of March 1983, he once again played regularly and helped Forest to an unbeaten spell of nine league matches, securing a place in the UEFA cup.

In the 1983–84 season van Breukelen played 36 of 42 league matches, helping the team to a league position of third (six points behind Liverpool) and a UEFA Cup semi final, where they were eliminated by Anderlecht in what turned out to be an infamous tie.

After two seasons in England, Van Breukelen returned to the Netherlands and PSV Eindhoven. Here he became Dutch champion four times in a row (1986–1989). 1988 was a great year for van Breukelen as his team won the European Champion Clubs' Cup, in the final he saved a crucial penalty kick during the shootout.

In addition, he helped the national team win the European Championship for the first time, defeating the Soviet Union by 2–0 in the final. Again by stopping a penalty by Igor Belanov in the match.

Van Breukelen also played at the 1990 FIFA World Cup, as well as the 1992 European Championship where the Netherlands lost to Denmark in the semi final. That match was van Breukelen's 73rd and last on the international level. He took two more league titles (1991 and 1992) with PSV, and retired after the 1993–94 season.

[edit] Honours

• Nuremberg Tournament winner: 1982.
• Trofeo Colombino Cup winner: 1982, 1983.
• UEFA Champions League winner: 1987–88.
• Eredivisie winner: 1985–86, 1986–87, 1987–88, 1988–89, 1990–91, 1991–92.
• KNVB Cup winner: 1987–88, 1988–89, 1989–90.
• Johan Cruijff-schaal winner: 1991–92.
• European Championship winner: 1988.
• Dutch Football Goalkeeper of the Year winner: 1987, 1988, 1991, 1992.

[edit] External links

• Hans van Breukelen profile and stats at Wereld van Oranje (Dutch)

v • d • e Netherlands squad – UEFA Euro 1980 1 Schrijvers • 2 Wijnstekers • 3 Van de Korput • 4 Hovenkamp • 5 Krol • 6 Poortvliet • 7 R. van de Kerkhof • 8 W. van de Kerkhof • 9 Kist • 10 Haan • 11 Otto • 12 Rep • 13 Nanninga • 14 Koster • 15 Stevens • 16 Doesburg • 17 Vreijsen • 18 Thijssen • 19 Zondervan • 20 van Breukelen • 21 Brandts • 22 Metgod • Coach: Zwartkruis

v • d • e Netherlands squad – UEFA Euro 1988 Winners (1st Title) 1 Van Breukelen • 2 Van Tiggelen • 3 Troost • 4 R. Koeman • 5 Winter • 6 Van Aerle • 7 Vanenburg • 8 Mühren • 9 Bosman • 10 Gullit • 11 Van 't Schip • 12 Van Basten • 13 E. Koeman • 14 Kieft • 15 Koevermans • 16 Hiele • 17 Rijkaard • 18 Suvrijn • 19 Krüzen • 20 Wouters • Coach: Michels

v • d • e Netherlands squad – 1990 FIFA World Cup 1 Van Breukelen • 2 Van Aerle • 3 Rijkaard • 4 R. Koeman • 5 Van Tiggelen • 6 Wouters • 7 E. Koeman • 8 Vanenburg • 9 Van Basten • 10 Gullit • 11 Richard Witschge • 12 Kieft • 13 Rutjes • 14 Van 't Schip • 15 Roy • 16 Hiele • 17 Gillhaus • 18 Fräser • 19 Van Loen • 20 Winter • 21 Blind • 22 Menzo • Coach: Beenhakker

v • d • e Netherlands squad – UEFA Euro 1992 semi-finalists 1 Van Breukelen • 2 Van Aerle • 3 Van Tiggelen • 4 Koeman • 5 Blind • 6 Wouters • 7 Bergkamp • 8 Rijkaard • 9 Van Basten • 10 Gullit • 11 Van 't Schip • 12 Kieft • 13 Menzo • 14 Rob Witschge • 15 Winter • 16 Bosz • 17 F. De Boer • 18 Jonk • 19 Viscaal • 20 Roy • Coach: Michels