Kees Smit

Kees Smit

Personal information
Date of birth	(2006-01-21) 21 January 2006 (age 18)
Place of birth	Heiloo, The Netherlands
Height	1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s)	Midfielder
Team information
Current team	AZ
Number	26
Youth career
0000–2023	AZ Alkmaar
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2023–	AZ	5	(0)
2023–	Jong AZ	42	(6)
International career^‡
2021	Netherlands U16	6	(0)
2022–2023	Netherlands U17	7	(0)
2023–	Netherlands U18	3	(0)
2024–	Netherlands U19	7	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 15 December 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 15 October 2024

Kees Smit (born 21 January 2006) is a Dutch footballer who plays for Eredivisie club AZ Alkmaar as a midfielder.[1]

Career

From Heiloo, Smit joined the academy at AZ Alkmaar at nine years-old in 2015. He then became the youngest member of their under-12 squad.[2] After progressing through the ranks at AZ, he signed a three-and-a-half-year professional contract in January 2021.[3][4]

In December 2022, Smit was included with the first team squad on their mid-season break travelling training party to Valencia, Spain.[5] In January 2023, a goal Smit scored in a five-a-side indoor game went viral due to its unusual nature, as he beat the outrushing goalkeeper with shot rebounded from the side wall.[6][7][8] Later that month, Smit made his professional debut for Jong AZ in the Eerste Divisie in a home match against Helmond Sport, on January 23, 2023.[9][10]

With AZ under-19s playing in the UEFA Youth League he was part of the team that beat Barcelona and Real Madrid on consecutive rounds to reach the semi-finals in March 2023.[11][12][13] Smit scored a long range goal in the UEFA Youth League last-sixteen tie against Barcelona that brought praise.[14][15][16] He also played in the UEFA Youth League final against Hajduk Split as AZ ran out 5-0 winners.[17]

He made his UEFA Europa League debut for AZ Alkmaar on 7 November 2024 in a 3-1 home win against Fenerbahçe, scoring the second goal and being credited with an assist for the third.[18]

International career

In November 2021, Smit played for the Netherlands national under-16 football team against the Belgian under-16s.[19] Smit has since been selected for the Dutch U17s.[20][21]

Career statistics

As of match played 15 December 2024

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			Cup		Europe		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Jong AZ	2022–23	Eerste Divisie	4	0	—		—		—		4	0
	2023–24	Eerste Divisie	29	2	—		—		—		29	2
	2024–25	Eerste Divisie	9	4	—		—		—		9	4
	Total		42	6	—		—		—		42	6
AZ	2024–25	Eredivisie	5	0	0	0	2[a]	1	0	0	8	1
Career total			47	6	0	0	2	1	0	0	49	7

1. Appearances in UEFA Europa League

References

1. "Kees Smit". Soccerway. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
2. "Speler van de Maand: Kees Smit". az.nl. November 18, 2022. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
3. "Kees Smit signs first contract with AZ". deforesters.nl. February 2021. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
4. "AZ bindt Smit". January 29, 2021. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
5. "AZ geeft talenten weer de kans: zestienjarige mee op trainingskamp". vi.nl. December 17, 2022. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
6. "AZ jeugdspeler Smit steelt show bij 5 tegen 5-toernooi met déze slimme goal". sportnieuws.nl. January 9, 2023. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
7. "Smit rough edges Brilliant goal from Alkmaar youth player in the hall". 11freunde.de. January 9, 2023. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
8. Hörmann, Daniel (January 9, 2023). "Video: Freches Tor über Bande bei Jugendhallenturnier". Fumsmagazin. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
9. Brinkman, Erik -Jan (January 27, 2023). "Double feeling for Young AZ talent Kees Smit after special week: "Boy's dream"". nhnieuws.nl. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
10. "AZ II VS. HELMOND 1-1". Soccerway. January 23, 2023. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
11. "Daniël Beukers klopt met AZ Barcelona". March 2, 2023. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
12. "El AZ Alkmaar repite la misma receta para dejar fuera al Madrid". besoccer.com. March 16, 2023. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
13. "Lewis Schouten en Daniël Breukers smaakmakers bij Youth League/sensatie". telegraaf.nl. March 16, 2023. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
14. "Youth League: The incredible goal of the central circle of Kees Smit which surprises Barça!". beinsports.com. March 1, 2023. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
15. Van Poppel, Jeroen (March 1, 2023). "Kees Smit enchants Johan Cruijff stadium with an unparalleled goal against Barcelona". Retrieved March 17, 2023.
16. "Wondergoal! AZ-talent Kees Smit (17) schiet vanuit middencirkel raak tegen FC Barcelona in Youth League". sportnieuws.nl. March 1, 2023. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
17. "UEFA Youth League final report: AZ Alkmaar 5-0 Hajduk Split". UEFA.com. April 24, 2023. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
18. "Effective AZ thanks in part to 18-year-old star Smit past Fenerbahçe: 3-1". Nos.nl. 7 November 2024. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
19. "Oefeninterlands, seizoen 2021/22". onsoranje.nl. November 23, 2021. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
20. Fleming, Connor (January 8, 2023). "This is one of the most satisfyingly inventive indoor goals ever". the18.com. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
21. "Update: zeven AZ'ers in voorlopige selectie Oranje Onder 17". az.nl. March 4, 2023. Retrieved March 17, 2023.