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Erik Pieters

Erik Pieters
Erik Pieters 2011.jpg
Pieters with PSV Eindhoven in 2011
Personal information
Full name Erik Pieters
Date of birth (1988-08-07) 7 August 1988 (age 28)
Place of birth Tiel, Gelderland, Netherlands
Height 1.84 m (6 ft 12 in)
Playing position Left back
Club information
Current team
Stoke City
Number 3
Youth career
2000–2004 VV Rhelico
2004–2006 Utrecht
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2006–2008 Utrecht 51 (2)
2008–2013 PSV Eindhoven 93 (0)
2013– Stoke City 129 (1)
National team
2004–2006 Netherlands U17 5 (0)
2006–2007 Netherlands U19 3 (0)
2007–2010 Netherlands U21 19 (1)
2010– Netherlands 18 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 21:24, 18 March 2017 (UTC).
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 4 September 2014

Erik Pieters (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈeː.rɪk ˈpi.tərs]) (born 7 August 1988) is a Dutch footballer who plays as a left back for Premier League club Stoke City and the Dutch national team.

Pieters began his career with Utrecht and made his professional debut in August 2006. He impressed enough at the Stadion Galgenwaard to earn a move to PSV Eindhoven in July 2008 for €2.5 million. At PSV he won the Johan Cruijff Shield in 2008 and the KNVB Beker in 2011–12 and also became a regular member of the Dutch national team. Injuries hampered his progress in 2012–13 before he moved to English side Stoke City in June 2013 for €3.6 million.

Born in Tiel, Pieters grew up in Enspijk and started as a central midfielder in the juvenile ranks of VV Rhelico in Rumpt. There he was scouted by FC Utrecht and, after a trial period, he joined the Utrecht youth academy.

Pieters made his Eredivisie debut for Utrecht in a 2–1 defeat against Willem II and went on to make 29 appearances in his maiden season as Utrecht finished the 2006–07 season in 9th position and they went on to win in the Intertoto Cup play-offs. In the 2007–08 season, Pieters made his European debut in July in the Intertoto Cup. He made 35 appearances and scored twice against Willem II and FC Groningen as Utrecht finished in 10th position. His solid performances attracted the interest of PSV Eindhoven.


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