Rob de Wit (footballer)

In this Dutch name, the surname is de Wit, not Wit.
Rob de Wit
Rob de Wit in 1987
Personal information
Full name Rob de Wit
Date of birth (1963-09-08) 8 September 1963
Place of birth Utrecht, Netherlands
Position Winger
Youth career
FC Utrecht
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1982–1984 FC Utrecht 43 (7)
1984–1986 Ajax 63 (16)
International career
1985–1986 Netherlands 8 (3)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Robertus Leonardus "Rob" de Wit[1] (born 8 September 1963)[2] is a Dutch former football player.

Career

De Wit made his debut for FC Utrecht in the 1982–83 season.[3] He was a member of the Dutch squad at the 1983 FIFA World Youth Championship.[4] He was transferred to Ajax Amsterdam in July 1984, as successor of left wing attacker Jesper Olsen, who left to Manchester United.[5] At Ajax, he quickly became a crowd favourite, and played nearly all league matches in the 1984–1985 and 1985–1986 seasons.

In May 1985, still in his first season at Ajax, De Wit made his debut for the Dutch national team in a World Cup qualifier against Austria.[6] Nearly two weeks later, De Wit scored the winning goal against Hungary (0–1 away win), which helped the Netherlands secure a play-off match against Belgium for the 1986 FIFA World Cup.

Health

De Wit's career came to an abrupt end in 1986, due to a cerebral hemorrhage while on holiday in Spain.[2] At first, the consequences didn't seem to be serious. After an unsuccessful treatment in Sweden,[1] it became clear that Rob de Wit would never play professional football again. De Wit announced his retirement from professional football on 2 February 1988.[7] On Saturday 28 May 1988, Ajax (with some additional players from FC Utrecht) and the Dutch national squad preparing for UEFA Euro 1988 played a testimonial match for Rob de Wit at De Meer Stadium, which the Dutch team won (3-1).[1][8]

He sustained two more cerebral hemorrhages later in life: one in 1993 and one in January 2005.[9]

De Wit played 106 league matches in four seasons, scoring 23 goals.[3]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[3]
Club Season League[3] National Cup Continental[10] Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Utrecht 1982–83 Eredivisie 9 1 — — 9 1
1983–84 34 6 2 0 — 36 6
Total 43 7 2 0 — 45 7
Ajax 1984–85 Eredivisie 31 7 3 0 3[a] 0 37 7
1985–86 32 9 6 1 2[b] 0 40 10
Total 63 16 9 1 5 0 77 17
Career total 106 23 11 1 5 0 132 24
  1. ^ Appearances in UEFA Cup
  2. ^ Appearances in European Cup

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year[6]
National team Year Apps Goals
Netherlands 1985 5 3
1986 3 0
Total 8 3
Scores and results list the Netherlands' goal tally first, score column indicates score after each De Wit goal.
List of international goals scored by Rob de Wit[6]
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 14 May 1985 Budapest, Hungary  Hungary 1–0 1–0 1986 FIFA World Cup qualification
2 4 September 1985 Heerenveen, Netherlands  Bulgaria 1–0 1–0 Friendly
3 20 November 1985 Rotterdam, Netherlands  Belgium 2–0 2–1 1986 FIFA World Cup qualification

Honours

References

  1. ^ a b c Lex Muller (30 May 1988). "Treuren om De Wit" [Grieving about De Wit]. Algemeen Dagblad (in Dutch). Retrieved 18 March 2026.
  2. ^ a b "Herinneringen ophalen met De Wit en Silooy" [Reminiscing with De Wit and Silooy]. Ajax.nl (in Dutch). 31 August 2025.
  3. ^ a b c d "Rob de Wit - speler Eredivisie". voetbalstats.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 9 November 2025.
  4. ^ Bert Nederlof (19 June 2001). "Bert Nederlof blikt terug op WK onder 19 in 1983" [Bert Nederlof looks back on World Cup under 19 years in 1983]. Voetbal International (in Dutch). Retrieved 18 March 2026.
  5. ^ "Ajax contracteert Rob de Wit" [Ajax signs Rob de Wit]. Limburgsch Dagblad (in Dutch). 24 May 1984. Retrieved 18 March 2026.
  6. ^ a b c "Rob de Wit – Interlands Nederlands elftal". voetbalstats.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 9 November 2025.
  7. ^ "Rob de Wit keert niet terug in betaald voetbal" [Rob de Wit does not return in professional football]. Trouw (in Dutch). 2 February 1988. Retrieved 18 March 2026.
  8. ^ "Benefiet-wedstrijd Rob de Wit: Nederlands elftal wint met 3-1 van Ajax-selectie" [Testimonial match Rob de Wit: Dutch team beats Ajax squad with 3-1]. Amigoe (in Dutch). 30 May 1988. Retrieved 18 March 2026.
  9. ^ Joost van Velzen (19 November 2005). "Soms gromt De Wit even, maar dat is het" [De Wit growls sometimes, but that's it]. Trouw (in Dutch). Retrieved 28 April 2007.
  10. ^ "Rob de Wit - Europese wedstrijden Nederlandse clubs". voetbalstats.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 9 November 2025.
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