Niek Loohuis (, born 25 April 1986) is a Dutch former professional
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 lea ...
who played as a
midfielder
In the sport of association football, a midfielder takes an Glossary of association football terms#O, outfield position primarily in the middle of the pitch. Midfielders may play an exclusively defensive role, breaking up attacks, and are in t ...
for
SC Veendam
Sportclub Veendam () was a Dutch professional association football club based in Veendam, Groningen (province), province of Groningen. Founded on 4 September 1894 as Look-Out, it became P.J. Veendam in 1909, Veendam in 1910, SC Veendam in 1974, ...
and
SC Heerenveen
Sportclub Heerenveen (; West Frisian language, West Frisian: Sportklub It Hearrenfean) is a Dutch professional association football, football club from Heerenveen. They currently play in the Eredivisie, the top level of football in the Netherla ...
.
Career
Loohuis was born in
Losser
Losser () is a municipality and a town in the eastern Netherlands. It is at the eastern end of the A1 motorway.
Population centres
Losser
The oldest known reference to Losser dates from the tenth century.Stenvert, R. et al. (1998). ''Monumenten ...
. He used to be a part of
FC Twente
Football Club Twente (), sometimes known internationally as FC Twente Enschede, is a Dutch professional Association football, football club from the city of Enschede. The club was formed in 1965 by the merger of 1926 Dutch champions Sportclub E ...
'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
Oldenzaal (; Tweants: ''Oldnzel'') is a municipality and a city in the eastern province of Overijssel in t ...
in
Oldenzaal
Oldenzaal (; Tweants: ''Oldnzel'') is a municipality and a city in the eastern province of Overijssel in the Netherlands. It is part of the region of Twente and is close to the German border.
It received city rights in 1249. Historically, the ...
where he played until the age of 18.
In
Oldenzaal
Oldenzaal (; Tweants: ''Oldnzel'') is a municipality and a city in the eastern province of Overijssel in the Netherlands. It is part of the region of Twente and is close to the German border.
It received city rights in 1249. Historically, the ...
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 1st Division or First Division may refer to:
Military
Airborne divisions
*1st Parachute Division (Germany)
*1st Airborne Division (United Kingdom)
* 1st Airmobile Division (Ukraine)
* 1st Guards Airborne Division
Armoured divisions
*1st Armoure ...
clubs showed interest:
FC Emmen
FC Emmen is a Dutch professional football club based in Emmen, Drenthe. They currently play in the Eerste Divisie, the second tier of Dutch football, following relegation from the Eredivisie in the 2022–23 season. Founded in 1925, the club ...
and
BV Veendam
Sportclub Veendam () was a Dutch professional association football club based in Veendam, province of Groningen. Founded on 4 September 1894 as Look-Out, it became P.J. Veendam in 1909, Veendam in 1910, SC Veendam in 1974, BV Veendam in 1997 ...
. 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, Groningen (province), Groningen province. Founded in 1971 as the successor of GVAV-Rapiditas, GVAV, Groningen compete in the Eredivisie, the first t ...
,
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 t ...
and
FC Twente
Football Club Twente (), sometimes known internationally as FC Twente Enschede, is a Dutch professional Association football, football club from the city of Enschede. The club was formed in 1965 by the merger of 1926 Dutch champions Sportclub E ...
showed interest in the talented midfielder. His
sports agent
A sports agent is a legal representative (hence agent (law), agent) for professional sports figures such as athletes and coaches. They procure and negotiate employment and Testimonial, endorsement contracts for the principal (commercial law), at ...
Henk Nienhuis
Henk Nienhuis (11 August 1941 – 18 February 2017) was a Dutch Association football, footballer and manager. He spent the major part of his career at SC Veendam, BV Veendam, hence his nickname ''Mister Veendam''.Abe Lenstra Stadium. He did not need much time to make his decision, and choose for Heerenveen.
Gertjan Verbeek
Gertjan Verbeek (; born 1 August 1962) is a Dutch former professional footballer who last managed Eerste Divisie side Almere City.
Coaching career Netherlands
After retiring from his playing career in 1994, Verbeek stayed with SC Heerenveen as ...
said Loohuis had made a lot of progress in one year. "Niek is a
defensive midfielder
In the sport of association football, a midfielder takes an outfield position primarily in the middle of the pitch. Midfielders may play an exclusively defensive role, breaking up attacks, and are in that case known as defensive midfielders. ...
that can also be used a
centre-back
In the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to stop attacks during the game and prevent the opposition from scoring.
Defenders fall into four main categories: centre-backs, full-backs, sweepers ...
. He is dynamical, has good stamina and has a "good head".
The twenty-year-old signed a three-year contract during the 2006/2007 winter
transfer window
In association football, a transfer window is the period during the year in which a football club, club can add players to their squad who were previously under contract with another club. Such a Transfer (association football), transfer is comp ...
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 in use for youth international football matches since the first match since the dissolving of SC Veendam in October of 2024. The stadium is able to hold 6,500 peopl ...
, Veendam's home base.
Style of play
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 was a midfielder who notably played in the Eredivisie for FC Twente and Feyenoord and ...
. 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 position quickly and requires the integration of isolated movement skills using a combination of balance, coordination, speed, reflexes, strength, and endurance. More specifically, it ...
.
Manager
Management (or managing) is the administration of organizations, whether businesses, nonprofit organizations, or a government bodies through business administration, nonprofit management, or the political science sub-field of public administra ...
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, now retired, is his
idol
Idol or Idols may refer to:
Religion and philosophy
* Cult image, a human-made object that is venerated or worshipped for the deity, spirit or daemon that it embodies or represents
* Murti, a devotional image of a deity or saint used during puja ...