Piet Keizer
Encyclopedia
Petrus Johannes Keizer (born June 14, 1943 in Amsterdam
) was a Dutch
professional football
player. Having played 364 matches for Ajax, from 1961 to 1974, he is the fourth most capped player for Ajax (in terms of league appearances). He played on left-wing and with Ajax won the European Cup
three consecutive times (1971
, 1972
, 1973
), having lost the 1969
final to A.C. Milan
.
Piet Keizer and Johan Cruijff were known as the "royal pair", or "the starter and the finisher". Keizer had a gift for not being noticed, but then striking with uncanny precision. His hallmark moment came in the European Cup
final against Internazionale in 1972, when Keizer crossed the ball with deadly precision and Cruijff only had to tap it in.
With the Dutch national team
, Keizer played 34 times, scoring 11 goals. He was in the Dutch squad for the 1974 FIFA World Cup
.
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
) was a 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...
professional football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
player. Having played 364 matches for Ajax, from 1961 to 1974, he is the fourth most capped player for Ajax (in terms of league appearances). He played on left-wing and with Ajax won the European Cup
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
three consecutive times (1971
1971 European Cup Final
The 1971 European Cup Final was a football match held at Wembley Stadium, London, on 2 June 1971, that saw Ajax of the Netherlands defeat Panathinaikos of Greece 2–0. An incredible comeback in the second leg of their semi-final against Red Star Belgrade meant Panathinaikos became the first Greek...
, 1972
1972 European Cup Final
The 1972 European Cup Final was a football match held at De Kuip, Rotterdam, on 31 May 1972, that saw Ajax of the Netherlands defeat Internazionale of Italy 2-0. Two second-half goals from Johan Cruyff gave Ajax their second success in the competition, after their 1971 victory...
, 1973
1973 European Cup Final
The 1973 European Cup Final was a football match held at the Red Star Stadium, Belgrade, on 30 May 1973, in which Ajax of the Netherlands defeated Juventus of Italy 1–0. A single goal from Johnny Rep four minutes into the match was enough for Ajax to claim their third consecutive European Cup...
), having lost the 1969
1969 European Cup Final
The 1969 European Cup Final was a football match held at the Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid, on 28 May 1969, that saw Milan of Italy play against Ajax of the Netherlands to determine who would be the champions of Europe that season...
final to A.C. Milan
A.C. Milan
Associazione Calcio Milan, commonly referred to as A.C. Milan or simply Milan , is a professional Italian football club based in Milan, Lombardy, that plays in the Serie A. Milan was founded in 1899 by English lace-maker Herbert Kilpin and businessman Alfred Edwards among others...
.
Piet Keizer and Johan Cruijff were known as the "royal pair", or "the starter and the finisher". Keizer had a gift for not being noticed, but then striking with uncanny precision. His hallmark moment came in the European Cup
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
final against Internazionale in 1972, when Keizer crossed the ball with deadly precision and Cruijff only had to tap it in.
With 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...
, Keizer played 34 times, scoring 11 goals. He was in the Dutch squad for 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...
.