FC Twente icon Theo Pahlplatz has passed away at the age of 76. The former international had been ill for some time.
In 1966, Pahlplatz exchanged the amateur club Quick’20 in his birthplace Oldenzaal for FC Twente. The winger immediately became a permanent fixture and achieved good results with the formation from Enschede, especially between 1968 and 1978. Only in 1977 did the club fall outside the top five of the Eredivisie with ninth place.
Pahplatz reached the final of the UEFA Cup with Twente in 1975 against Borussia Mönchengladbach. After a 0-0 draw in Germany, the Dutch team lost 5-1 at home. Two years later, the first prize in club history was won after winning the 1977 cup final against PEC Zwolle (3-0).
Pahlplatz played a total of 468 official matches for Twente between 1966 and 1979 and scored 82 goals for the club. He also came into action thirteen times for the Dutch national team and was accurate three times. No Twente player played more often for the Orange.