Piet Velthuizen

Football player infobox| playername = Piet Velthuizen
fullname = Piet Hubertus Velthuizen
nickname =


dateofbirth = birth date and age|1986|11|3
cityofbirth = Nijmegen
countryofbirth = Netherlands
height = height|m=1.89
currentclub = Vitesse
clubnumber = 1
position = Goalkeeper
youthyears =
youthclubs =
years = 2006-
clubs = Vitesse
caps(goals) = 35 (0)
nationalyears = 2007-
2008-
nationalteam = Netherlands U21
Netherlands
nationalcaps(goals) = 04 (0)
00 (0)
pcupdate = 12:45, 21 March 2008 (UTC)
ntupdate = 12:45, 25 May 2008 (UTC)

Piet Velthuizen (born 3 November 1986) is a Dutch footballer who currently plays for Vitesse. Velthuizen is a goalkeeper who was born in Nijmegen and made his debut in professional football, being part of the Vitesse squad in the 2006-07 season. According to Sky Sports, he is, as of 2008, among the most promising goalkeepers in Europe.cite web |url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11670_3083796,00.html |title=Gunners check on Dutch keeper |author=Gerrit van Leeuwen |date=2008-01-28 |accessdate=2008-01-28 |publisher=Sky Sports] He broke into the Vitesse first team in the 2007-08 season, when he signed a contract extension until 2011. [cite web |url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11670_3084161,00.html |title=Keeper happy at Vitesse |publisher=Sky Sports |date=2008-01-28 |accessdate=2008-01-28] His displays brought him to the attention of an Arsenal F.C. scout, who watched him in a league game. Velthuizen received his first call-up to the Dutch squad on March 21, 2008 for the friendly match against Austria. [nl cite web |url=http://www.telesport.nl/voetbal/3609191/_Van_Basten_neemt_Velthuizen_mee__.html |title=Van Basten neemt Velthuizen mee |date=2008-01-28 |accessdate=2008-03-21 |publisher=De Telegraaf]

Beijing Olympics 2008

He was selected by Foppe de Haan to be in the squad for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China. Although being first choice in most of the run-up to the Olympics, he was told by De Haan he would be second choice after the other Dutch goalie in the squad; Kenneth Vermeer.This was a big blow for Velthuizen. De Haan said he preferred Vermeer because of his experience at the previous U-21 European Championship squads and also because he thought Vermeer was a better goalkeeper in play.

At first, Dutch fans were not amused, largely preferring Velthuizen a place in the starting eleven. But after some outstanding performances in the group stage, the public criticism calmed quite a bit. Where Vermeer often kept the Dutch in the race, the fieldplayers struggled to impress, but nevertheless, with luck on their side, qualified for the quarter finals where they lost to Argentina.

References