Teun de Nooijer
Encyclopedia
Teun Floris de Nooijer (born 22 March 1976 in Egmond aan den Hoef) is a field hockey
player from the Netherlands
, who twice became Olympic champion with the Dutch national squad: in 1996
and in 2000
. He currently plays for Dutch side HC Bloemendaal
.
, when the team defeated Belgium
(7-3) in a friendly in Boxtel
, Noord-Brabant.
De Nooijer started playing hockey at the age of nine, with his brothers in the backyard of their house. He joined HC Alkmaar at the age of eleven, and was selected for the Dutch under-16 team 2 years later. At fifteen, De Nooijer made his debut in the senior men's league with HC Alkmaar, and two years later, he first played in Holland's elite league with HC Bloemendaal
. After two seasons wearing the number 11 shirt, De Nooijer switched to the number 14, made famous by Johan Cruijff, and has worn it for club and country ever since. The number was later bestowed on the signature stick he helped to create, the Dita
Giga #14
De Nooijer played for Alkmaar
before moving to HC Bloemendaal
. After the 1998 Hockey World Cup he played for a couple of months in Germany
, at Harvestehuder THC. In the final of the 1998 Hockey World Cup in Utrecht
he scored the golden goal in the final against Spain
. De Nooijer was named World Hockey Player of the Year in 2003, 2005 and 2006 by the International Hockey Federation
(FIH). De Nooijer created history when he won the award, which was presented by Jacques Rogge
for a record third time. Jamie Dwyer, however, equaled this record when he won the award for the third time in 2009, and surpassed it when he won the award again in 2010. The only other man to have won the award more than once is de Nooijer’s former team mate Stephan Veen
(1998, 2000).
Earlier in 2006, de Nooijer was the decisive factor in the Champions Trophy final as the Netherlands claimed a record-equalling eighth crown and de Nooijer's sixth.
He claimed his 400th cap for the Netherlands on 15th August 2009 against the 5-3 victory against India
De Nooijer is married to Philippa Suxdorf, herself a former German international hockey player with 154 caps under her belt. They have 3 daughters, seven-year-old Philine, five-year-old Lilly, and two-year-old Nana.
Field hockey
Field Hockey, or Hockey, is a team sport in which a team of players attempts to score goals by hitting, pushing or flicking a ball into an opposing team's goal using sticks...
player from the 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...
, who twice became Olympic champion with the Dutch national squad: in 1996
1996 Summer Olympics
The 1996 Summer Olympics of Atlanta, officially known as the Games of the XXVI Olympiad and unofficially known as the Centennial Olympics, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States....
and in 2000
2000 Summer Olympics
The Sydney 2000 Summer Olympic Games or the Millennium Games/Games of the New Millennium, officially known as the Games of the XXVII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated between 15 September and 1 October 2000 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
. He currently plays for Dutch side HC Bloemendaal
HC Bloemendaal
Hockey Club Bloemendaal is a Dutch field hockey club, which was established on April 16, 1895, and is therefore one of the oldest field hockey clubs in the Netherlands...
.
Life and work
He made his debut on 4 June 1994 in a friendly match against New Zealand. Since then the midfielder played over three hundred international matches for the Dutch. On April 4, 2007 he earned his 350th cap for the Netherlands national field hockey teamNetherlands national field hockey team
The Netherlands national field hockey team is the national team of the Netherlands that participates in international field hockey matches and tournaments...
, when the team defeated Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
(7-3) in a friendly in Boxtel
Boxtel
Boxtel is a municipality and a town in the southern Netherlands.This is the origin of the van Boxtel family, which has numerous descendants in North Brabant....
, Noord-Brabant.
De Nooijer started playing hockey at the age of nine, with his brothers in the backyard of their house. He joined HC Alkmaar at the age of eleven, and was selected for the Dutch under-16 team 2 years later. At fifteen, De Nooijer made his debut in the senior men's league with HC Alkmaar, and two years later, he first played in Holland's elite league with HC Bloemendaal
HC Bloemendaal
Hockey Club Bloemendaal is a Dutch field hockey club, which was established on April 16, 1895, and is therefore one of the oldest field hockey clubs in the Netherlands...
. After two seasons wearing the number 11 shirt, De Nooijer switched to the number 14, made famous by Johan Cruijff, and has worn it for club and country ever since. The number was later bestowed on the signature stick he helped to create, the Dita
Dita Field Hockey
Dita is a sporting goods company which specializes in field hockey sticks and turf shoes. While Dita is sold worldwide, its main distributors are located in the USA, the UK, and the Netherlands.-Popularity:...
Giga #14
De Nooijer played for Alkmaar
Alkmaar
Alkmaar is a municipality and a city in the Netherlands, in the province of Noord Holland. Alkmaar is well known for its traditional cheese market. For tourists, it is a popular cultural destination.-History:...
before moving to HC Bloemendaal
HC Bloemendaal
Hockey Club Bloemendaal is a Dutch field hockey club, which was established on April 16, 1895, and is therefore one of the oldest field hockey clubs in the Netherlands...
. After the 1998 Hockey World Cup he played for a couple of months in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, at Harvestehuder THC. In the final of the 1998 Hockey World Cup in Utrecht
Utrecht (city)
Utrecht city and municipality is the capital and most populous city of the Dutch province of Utrecht. It is located in the eastern corner of the Randstad conurbation, and is the fourth largest city of the Netherlands with a population of 312,634 on 1 Jan 2011.Utrecht's ancient city centre features...
he scored the golden goal in the final against Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. De Nooijer was named World Hockey Player of the Year in 2003, 2005 and 2006 by the International Hockey Federation
International Hockey Federation
The International Field Hockey Federation is the global governing body of field hockey...
(FIH). De Nooijer created history when he won the award, which was presented by Jacques Rogge
Jacques Rogge
Jacques Rogge, Count Rogge , is a Belgian sports bureaucrat. He is the eighth and current President of the International Olympic Committee .-Life and career:...
for a record third time. Jamie Dwyer, however, equaled this record when he won the award for the third time in 2009, and surpassed it when he won the award again in 2010. The only other man to have won the award more than once is de Nooijer’s former team mate Stephan Veen
Stephan Veen
Stephan Patrick Veen is a retired field hockey forward and midfielder from The Netherlands, who twice became olympic champion with the Dutch national squad: in 1996 and in 2000....
(1998, 2000).
Earlier in 2006, de Nooijer was the decisive factor in the Champions Trophy final as the Netherlands claimed a record-equalling eighth crown and de Nooijer's sixth.
He claimed his 400th cap for the Netherlands on 15th August 2009 against the 5-3 victory against India
De Nooijer is married to Philippa Suxdorf, herself a former German international hockey player with 154 caps under her belt. They have 3 daughters, seven-year-old Philine, five-year-old Lilly, and two-year-old Nana.