It’s never too late to compete in elite football
A doping ban and an injury has allowed an experienced keeper to come to the fore. At the age of 38 and after a whole career playing for Dutch clubs, Remko Pasveer is performing at the highest level with Ajax and has a serious chance of competing in the Qatar World Cup for the Oranje.
Remko Pasveer’s story had been likely to go unnoticed, as is the case with most footballers who manage to become professionals but don’t leave a mark on their clubs and fans. After his beginnings at the humble SC Enschede, he made a name for himself on the national scene with FC Twente, with whom he made his debut in the Eredivisie during the 2003/2004 season in a 2-0 win over Willem II.
He spent three seasons with the Tukkers, but didn’t manage to take a spot in the starting eleven. He then moved to Heracles Almelo but had no impact in the team, playing just one game in two seasons. The lack of game time forced him to take his chances in the second division with Go Ahead Eagles, where he played regularly for two seasons, fighting to be at the top of the league table. That chapter gave him the experience he needed to return to Heracles Almelo and play as a starter in the Eredivisie for the following four seasons.
In 2014, he decided not to renew his contract and signed for PSV Eindhoven (PSV) knowing he’d play a secondary role in the team. He stayed with the Dutch giants for four seasons, where he was in an odd situation: he had an unnoticed debut in the Champions and Europa Leagues, but he was also part of the red and white reserve team with which he played a few less games (14 in the second division) than with the first team (18).
During the 2016/2017 season, PSV broke defensive records in Eredivisie with Jeroen Zoet in goal. Unable to enjoy minutes on the grass, Pasveer decided to join Vitesse when that campaign ended. There, he managed to become an example for his teammates, being awarded captaincy whilst also making an impact on the crowd, as Vitesse fans voted him best player during the 2019/2020 season.
At the age of 37, the veteran keeper reached an agreement with Ajax to bring his experience and competitiveness to the team as the third goalkeeper in the squad. This deal seemed to be a golden retirement for him in the biggest club in the Netherlands, but his story changed when he himself least expected it.
A doping ban and an injury opened the door to huge challenges
Destiny wanted Remko Pasveer to feel what is like to play the best football competitions in the world. André Onana, first-choice keeper for Ajax, had to face a nine months doping ban after he mistook one of his wife’s medicines (containing a UEFA forbidden substance known as furosemide) for a headache pill. At the same time Maarten Stekelenburg, well-known goalie and international with the Netherlands, suffered a serious groin injury which kept him out of action. This opened the door to Remko Pasveer, who showed Erik Ten Hag right from the start that he was ready to seize the opportunity.
Haaland’s worst nightmare and a chance with the Dutch national team
Remko Pasveer made his debut in last season Erediviese matchday 4 and he remained in the starting eleven for the entire campaign, achieving remarkable performances that allowed him to keep 20 clean sheets in all 28 games he played. On top of that, he also managed to reach an incredible record in all football: he is the first keeper to save three Erling Haaland’s shots on target in the same match. It happened on 19 October 2021 during a Champion’s League group stage match in which Ajax faced Borussia Dortmund, with the Dutch team winning 4-0.
Only a broken finger slowed down Remko Pasveer’s performance during the last part of the season. Despite this, with Alfred Schreurer replacing Erik Ten Hag on the bench, he still remains the starting keeper for Ajax. His high level has also allowed him to receive a Dutch national team call-up, something that he can’t have been expecting at this stage of his career. Van Gaal trusted on him to play the last two international fixtures against Poland and Belgium. Pasveer didn’t struggle during his debut and helped the team to secure two clean sheets and the six points that allowed the Oranje to reach the Final Four.
After becoming the second oldest player in history to make his debut for the Oranje (keeper Sander Boschker has the record after playing in 2019 at the age of 39), it seems that he is the main option in the goal for Van Gaal for the Qatar World Cup. At the moment, his recent performances make him the favourite, as other keepers that could be on the list such as Jasper Cillessen (NEC Nimejen), Andries Noppert (SC Herenveen), Marc Flekken (SC Freiburg) or Kjell Scherpen (Vitesse), are not making the difference in their domestic leagues.
If he receives the call, he is likely to be the second oldest player to be part of the most important event in world’s football, as Brazil’s captain Thiago Silva will play for the Canarinha and was born 47 days earlier than him. Beyond that, Remko Pasveer’s story will remain an example for future generations on patience, consistency and dedication to be ready to face the most demanding games and competitions at an age where most of the players are looking towards retirement.
