Pim Balkestein
Balkestein in 2009
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Pim Balkestein | ||
| Date of birth | 29 April 1987 | ||
| Place of birth | Gouda, Netherlands | ||
| Height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | ||
| Playing position | Centre back | ||
| Club information | |||
|
Current team
|
De Treffers | ||
| Number | 24 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| –2006 | Heerenveen | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2006–2008 | Heerenveen | 0 | (0) |
| 2008–2010 | Ipswich Town | 29 | (0) |
| 2009 | → Brentford (loan) | 8 | (0) |
| 2010 | → Brentford (loan) | 6 | (1) |
| 2010–2012 | Brentford | 25 | (1) |
| 2011 | → Rochdale (loan) | 13 | (0) |
| 2012 | → AFC Wimbledon (loan) | 6 | (0) |
| 2012–2013 | AFC Wimbledon | 24 | (2) |
| 2013–2015 | VVV-Venlo | 60 | (4) |
| 2015–2016 | SV Elversberg | 4 | (0) |
| 2016– | De Treffers | 28 | (1) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 23 January 2016. |
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Pim Balkestein (born 29 April 1987) is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as a centre back for De Treffers in the Dutch Tweede Divisie. He can also play as a left-back and is the son of ex-footballer Luuk Balkestein.
Balkestein was born in the Dutch city of Gouda on 29 April 1987. He is the son of former Sparta Rotterdam and Feyenoord player Luuk Balkestein. He came through the academy ranks at SC Heerenveen, making the step up from the under-19 squad to the first team for the 2006–07 season. However, the defender would never made a first team appearance for the club. At the end of the 2007–08 season, Balkestein joined Championship side Ipswich Town on trial, impressing manager Jim Magilton enough to be offered a permanent deal following his strong performance in a friendly for Ipswich Town Reserves against Tottenham Hotspur Reserves.
On 16 June 2008, Balkestein signed a two-year contract with Ipswich Town with the option of a further year extension. As a result of the transfer, a fee of £180,000 was paid to his former club SC Heerenveen as compensation. Balkestein made his professional and Football League debut for Ipswich Town on 9 August 2008 in a 2–1 defeat by Preston North End. The 21-year-old defender would go on to make 20 league appearances in total for Ipswich Town during the 2008–09 season. Balkestein also featured for "The Blues" in the First Round of the 2008-09 League Cup in a 4–1 win over Leyton Orient on 12 August 2008 as well as in the Third Round fixture against Wigan Athletic on 24 September 2008 which ended as a 4–1 defeat. The defender also played for Ipswich Town in their 3–1 defeat by Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in the Fourth Round of the 2008-09 FA Cup on 24 January 2009. On 21 April 2009, Balkestein was named Ipswich Town's "Most Improved Player of the Year", as voted for by the club's coaching staff. At the beginning of the 2009–10 season, Balkestein made 6 league appearances for Ipswich Town before it was announced that he would join League One side Brentford on an initial one-month loan deal on 20 November 2009. The defender made his debut for Brentford on 21 November 2009 in a 1–1 draw with Walsall. On 21 December 2009, Brentford manager Andy Scott extended Balkestein's loan by a further month. The extension was short-lived however, as on 30 December 2009, Balkestein was recalled by his parent club in order to replace injured defender David Wright. Balkestein's last game for Ipswich Town came on 30 January 2010 against the same opposition as his first, Preston North End, in what would end as a 2–0 defeat. On 25 March 2010, Pim Balkestein returned to Brentford on loan until the end of the 2009–10 with a view to a permanent move. On 30 March 2010, Balkestein scored his first football league goal for Brentford in a 3–2 win over Oldham Athletic.
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