Pim Balkestein
Encyclopedia
Pim Balkestein is a Dutch
professional footballer who plays for Brentford
. He plays as a central-defender
and can also play at left-back. He is the son of ex-footballer Luuk Balkestein
.
football club SC Heerenveen. He never made a first team appearance for the club, but during his time there, he was once named on stand-by for the Dutch Under-21's team.
. Whilst on trial, Balkestein appeared in a friendly match against Tottenham Hotspur
. On 16 June 2008, Balkestein signed a two-year contract with the option of a third year, a fee of £
180,000 was paid to former club SC Heerenveen as compensation. He made his debut versus Preston North End
on 9 August 2008.
On 21 April 2009, Balkestein was named Ipswich Town's "Most Improved Player of the Year", an award voted for by club's coaching staff.
.
On 6 August 2010, Balkestein signed for Brentford on a permanent basis.
on loan until 18 January 2012, with a view to a permanent move.
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
professional footballer who plays for Brentford
Brentford F.C.
Brentford Football Club are a professional English football club based in Brentford in the London Borough of Hounslow. They are currently playing in Football League One....
. He plays as a central-defender
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
and can also play at left-back. He is the son of ex-footballer Luuk Balkestein
Luuk Balkestein
Luuk Balkestein is a retired Dutch football player who played for Sparta Rotterdam and Feyenoord, as well as the Dutch national side.His son, Pim, is also a footballer.-External links:*...
.
Heerenveen
Balkestein came through the ranks at DutchNetherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
football club SC Heerenveen. He never made a first team appearance for the club, but during his time there, he was once named on stand-by for the Dutch Under-21's team.
Ipswich Town
Balkestein joined Ipswich on trial at the end of the 2007–08 season, after impressing the Ipswich manager at the time, Jim MagiltonJim Magilton
James "Jim" Magilton is a Northern Irish former footballer and manager, who is currently employed as Football Consultant at Shamrock Rovers F.C. after being appointed on 6 July 2011....
. Whilst on trial, Balkestein appeared in a friendly match against Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
. On 16 June 2008, Balkestein signed a two-year contract with the option of a third year, a fee of £
Pound sterling
The pound sterling , commonly called the pound, is the official currency of the United Kingdom, its Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, British Antarctic Territory and Tristan da Cunha. It is subdivided into 100 pence...
180,000 was paid to former club SC Heerenveen as compensation. He made his debut versus Preston North End
Preston North End F.C.
Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One...
on 9 August 2008.
On 21 April 2009, Balkestein was named Ipswich Town's "Most Improved Player of the Year", an award voted for by club's coaching staff.
Brentford
In the 2009–10 season, he spent two spells on loan at Brentford. It was in the second of these spells that he scored his first goal in English football in a 3–2 win over Oldham AthleticOldham Athletic A.F.C.
Oldham Athletic Association Football Club is an English association football club based at Boundary Park, on Sheepfoot Lane in Oldham, Greater Manchester. The club currently competes in the Football League One, the third tier of the English league...
.
On 6 August 2010, Balkestein signed for Brentford on a permanent basis.
Rochdale
On 19 August 2011, Balkenstein joined League One rivals RochdaleRochdale A.F.C.
Rochdale Association Football Club is an English professional football club based in Rochdale, Greater Manchester. They play their home matches at Spotland Stadium. Formed in 1907, they were accepted into the Football League in 1921...
on loan until 18 January 2012, with a view to a permanent move.
External links
- Pim Balkestein player profile at itfc.co.uk
- Pim Balkestein biography at playerhistory.com
- Pim Balkestein biography at goal.com
- Pim Balkestein named 'Most Improved Player of the Year'