Kika van Es stops playing football. After fourteen seasons at the highest level, the Oranjeleeuwin from Boxmeer puts an end to her football career and chooses herself. “It is the best choice, but it is never a nice decision after such a career,” can be read on the website of PSV, the club she now plays for.
Earlier this month it was announced that her contract in Eindhoven would not be extended. In the AD she elaborates on her choice to stop. She says she went through a tough period with many injuries and a miscarriage.
“I’m a family person,” she says to the newspaper. “I would have liked to be a young mother too. Unfortunately that did not work out. Now is the time to say: Kiek, go for that dream.”
Glorious career
The 31-year-old defender played five seasons for PSV. She previously played football for Willem II, VVV-Venlo, Ajax, FC Twente and in England at Everton. She was part of the Dutch national team and put women’s football on the map. In 2017 she was a basic player when the Netherlands won the European Championship. And in 2019 she took silver at the World Cup.
In an international match against Greece in 2014, Van Es suffered a double leg fracture. After that serious injury, she returned to the field. This year she no longer played for the Dutch national team. In November last year, she made her last minutes for the Dutch team with a raid against Denmark (2-0).