Pasveer’s tale: he made his debut at almost 39 with the Netherlands and perhaps Van Gaal will field him in Qatar!

A footballer over thirty is hardly expected to turn out to be a star. Imagine if the candles to blow out on the next cake are even 39. But the story of Remko Pasveer shows that it is never too late!

It is never too late, said the title of one of the programs that made the history of Italian television. But this concept almost never applies to football. Often and willingly, if a footballer does not blossom within a few years of his debut, the label of mediocre remains and it is difficult to shake it off. Of course, there are some “late bloomers” of Italian football (like Luca Toni or Fabio Grosso, just to remember two 2006 World Champions) who reached high levels when they were no longer kids, but in short, it is not expected that a footballer who is over thirty can turn out to be a star. Imagine if the candles to blow out on the next cake are even 39.

And instead Remko Pasveer, born on November 8, 1983, will most likely celebrate his birthday with a ticket to Qatar and also with a place as a protagonist: the Ajax goalkeeper has in fact ended up in the round of the Netherlands national team, making his debut at the ripe old age of 38 years and almost 11 months in the Nations League match against Poland and returning to the field also against Belgium. The keeper performed well and won the trust of coach Louis Van Gaal, who at this point will not only take him to the Persian Gulf, but could also think about giving him the door from the first minute. And to say that Pasveer until a year ago was an unknown emeritus, who had arrived at Ajax after a not exceptional career to be the third goalkeeper.

But then, as he explains Brand, fate has put his hand in it. Before the Johan Cruijff Arena lost his place Onana, who received a disqualification for doping and on his return went on a collision course with the Lancers, not renewing the contract and promising to Inter. And then the twelfth, the former Roma player Marteen Stekelenburg, suffered an injury that forced Ajax to bet on Pasveer. Result, only one goal conceded in the first 12 games as a starter, not exactly numbers that everyone can boast. The excellent performances meant that his team to look for a new number one did not even think about it anymore, but above all they allowed him to detach the first call-up with the national team and to register the first presence, entering the second place of the most players. “old” who have played with the Oranje. Now all he has to do is make history in Qatar again. Van Gaal permitting, because the good Louis can change his mind from one minute to the next …