Niek Loohuis (, born 25 April 1986 in
Losser) is a former
Dutch footballer
A football player or footballer is a sportsperson who plays one of the different types of football. The main types of football are association football, American football, Canadian football, Australian rules football, Gaelic football, rugby le ...
who currently plays for
Quick '20
Quick '20 (short for Katholieke Voetbal Vereniging Quick 1920 , Eng.: Catholic Football Club Quick 1920) is a football club from Oldenzaal, Netherlands. The club was founded in 1920 and is currently playing in the Derde Divisie
The Derde Divis ...
. He formerly played for
SC Veendam and
SC Heerenveen
Sportclub Heerenveen (; West Frisian: Sportklub It Hearrenfean) is a Dutch football club from Heerenveen. They currently play in the Eredivisie, the top level of football in the Netherlands.
History
Sportclub Heerenveen was founded on 20 July ...
.
Career
Loohuis used to be a part of
FC Twente
Football Club Twente () is a Dutch professional football club from the city of Enschede, sometimes known internationally as Twente Enschede. The club was formed in 1965 by the merger of 1926 Dutch champions Sportclub Enschede with Enschedese Bo ...
's youth academy. The talent was declared unfit, for he did not meet the physical demands. Loohuis experienced growth problems and Twente had no other choice but to let him go. He went to amateur club
Quick '20
Quick '20 (short for Katholieke Voetbal Vereniging Quick 1920 , Eng.: Catholic Football Club Quick 1920) is a football club from Oldenzaal, Netherlands. The club was founded in 1920 and is currently playing in the Derde Divisie
The Derde Divis ...
in
Oldenzaal where he played until the age of 18.
In
Oldenzaal the youngster could play freely. Quick'20 played at the highest level of amateur football in the Netherlands at the time. Loohuis reckoned it was a good step in pursuing his dream of becoming a professional footballer. He got what he wanted. In 2005 two
first division clubs showed interest:
FC Emmen
FC Emmen is a Dutch football club based in Emmen, Drenthe. They play in the Eredivisie, the top tier of Dutch football, after winning the 2021–22 Eerste Divisie title. Founded in 1925, the club entered the professional Eerste Divisie in 1985. I ...
and
BV Veendam. He chose the latter, where he played on amateur basis. A year and a half later he played 52 games for Veendam and scored four goals.
SC Heerenveen
His good performances did not go by unnoticed. Apart from Heerenveen,
N.E.C.,
FC Groningen
Football Club Groningen () is a Dutch professional association football club based in Groningen, province of Groningen. Founded on 16 June 1971 as the successor of GVAV, the team compete in the Eredivisie, the highest tier of Dutch football. G ...
,
Heracles Almelo
Heracles Almelo is a Dutch professional football club based in Almelo, founded in 1903. The club has won the Dutch national title twice, in 1927 and 1941. Heracles won the Eerste Divisie title during the 2004–05 season, gaining promotion to th ...
and
FC Twente
Football Club Twente () is a Dutch professional football club from the city of Enschede, sometimes known internationally as Twente Enschede. The club was formed in 1965 by the merger of 1926 Dutch champions Sportclub Enschede with Enschedese Bo ...
showed interest in the talented midfielder. His
sports agent Henk Nienhuis confirmed there were several scouts following him. Heerenveen immediately invited him to visit a match in the
Abe Lenstra Stadium. He did not need much time to make his decision, and choose for Heerenveen.
Gertjan Verbeek said Loohuis had made a lot of progress in one year. "Niek is a
defensive midfielder that can also be used a
centre-back
In the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield position whose primary role is to stop attacks during the game and prevent the opposition from scoring.
Centre-backs are usually positioned in pairs, with one full-back on either s ...
. He is dynamical, has good
stamina
Stamina may refer to: Biology and healthcare
* Endurance, the ability of an organism to exert itself and remain active for a long period of time, as well as its ability to resist, withstand, recover from, and have immunity to trauma, wounds, or fat ...
and has a "good head".
The twenty-year-old signed a three-year contract during the 2006/2007 winter
transfer window
A transfer window is the period during the year in which a football club can transfer players from other playing staff into their playing staff. Such a transfer is completed by registering the player into the new club through FIFA. "Transfer win ...
with an option for another two years. The contract took effect in half a year later, meaning Loohuis could finish his season at the
De Langeleegte
De Langeleegte () is a multi-use stadium in Veendam, Netherlands. It is currently not in use as it was the home stadium of SC Veendam
Sportclub Veendam () was a Dutch professional association football club based in Veendam, province of Gron ...
, Veendam's home base.
Style
Loohuis is often compared to
Paul Bosvelt
Paul Bosvelt (, born 26 March 1970) is a Dutch football coach and former professional footballer who is technical director of Go Ahead Eagles.
As a player he midfielder he notably played in the Eredivisie for FC Twente and Feyenoord and in the ...
. Both men are hard-working players on the midfield (and occasionally in the defense), are good at passing the ball and will do anything not to lose.
The young man himself hopes to improve his physical strength, his duel power and his
agility
Agility or nimbleness is an ability to change the body's list of human positions, position quickly and requires the integration of isolated movement skills using a combination of balance (ability), balance, coordination (physiology), coordination ...
.
Manager
Management (or managing) is the administration of an organization, whether it is a business, a nonprofit organization, or a government body. It is the art and science of managing resources of the business.
Management includes the activities o ...
Gertjan Verbeek is known for his emphasis on physical power, exactly the point Loohuis wants to improve himself. He hopes to learn from Heerenveen's experienced players.
Paul Bosvelt
Paul Bosvelt (, born 26 March 1970) is a Dutch football coach and former professional footballer who is technical director of Go Ahead Eagles.
As a player he midfielder he notably played in the Eredivisie for FC Twente and Feyenoord and in the ...
, now retired, is his
idol.
References
External links
*
Niek Loohuis: Talent over transfer naar Heerenveen (Video interview)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Loohuis, Niek
1986 births
Living people
People from Losser
Dutch footballers
Association football midfielders
SC Veendam players
Eredivisie players
Eerste Divisie players
SC Heerenveen players
Quick '20 players
Footballers from Overijssel