Johan Zuidema

Johan Zuidema, 1975

Johan Zuidema ( born September 21, 1948 in Zwaagwesteinde ) is a former Dutch football player.

Zuidema moved to the 1971/72 season by his Frisian homeland club for Erstdivisionär SC Cambuur. DC in his second pro season, he was in 1973 with 25 goals scorer in the First Division. In the same year he moved to FC Twente in the Eredivisie. With the runner-up in the 1973/74 season to the club qualified for the UEFA Cup. There Zuidema contributed nine goals, including the winning goal in a 1-0 away win in the semi-final against Juventus, significantly to the achievement of the final games at where the FC Twente but then the German club Borussia Mönchengladbach defeated. At Twente he also briefly managed the leap into the Dutch national team, for whom he played two games in the spring of 1975.

For the 1975/76 season Zuidema moved to ambitious Eredivisie NEC Nijmegen - climber. There he was able to meet the high expectations that were brought to him, do not do justice. Disputes with his teammate Jan Peters overshadowed his sporting achievements. At the end, there were a meager three goals and seventh place to book.

After only one year left Zuidema Nijmegen and went to Ajax Amsterdam. There he was increasingly used in the central defense. After three lean years Ajax succeeded with Zuidema in the starting eleven again in 1977 winning the Dutch championship. In the season 1977/78 he came as the successor of Wim Suurbier in the right back of the midfield to use and moved to this position in the run-up to the 1978 World Cup even returned to the candidate with the national team.

While the Netherlands then penetrated into Argentina without him up in the World Cup final to Zuidema injured during a charity match in Drachten so hard on the knee that he had to end his football career prematurely.

Zuidema returned to his Frisian homeland. There, now works as director of a branch of the Friesland Bank in Buitenpost.