Abe Lenstra facts for kids
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Lenstra in 1951
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Abe Minderts Lenstra | ||
| Date of birth | 27 November 1920 | ||
| Place of birth | Heerenveen, Netherlands | ||
| Date of death | 2 September 1985 (aged 64) | ||
| Place of death | Heerenveen, Netherlands | ||
| Playing position | Striker | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1936–1955 | Heerenveen | 395 | (471) |
| 1955–1960 | SC Enschede | 107 | (65) |
| 1960–1963 | Enschedese Boys | 88 | (40) |
| Total | 590 | (576) | |
| National team | |||
| 1940–1959 | Netherlands | 47 | (33) |
| Teams managed | |||
| 1946–1947 | Heerenveen (player-coach) | ||
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Abe Minderts Lenstra (born November 27, 1920 – died September 2, 1985) was a very famous Dutch football player. He was a national hero in the 1950s. Abe played as a striker, which means he was a goal scorer. Many people think he was one of the best Dutch footballers ever. He was also a legend in the Frisian region, especially for the club Heerenveen, where he became well-known.
Contents
A Football Star's Journey
Abe Lenstra played for several football clubs during his career. These included SC Enschede and Enschedese Boys. But he truly made his mark at VV Heerenveen, which is now known as sc Heerenveen. It was while playing for Heerenveen that he was first chosen to play for the Dutch national team.
In 1954, professional football started in the Netherlands. Abe Lenstra, who was 34 years old then, moved from VV Heerenveen to the bigger club, SC Enschede. At SC Enschede, he almost won the Dutch title in 1958. His team lost a very close final match against DOS Utrecht. In 1960, he moved to a rival team, Enschedese Boys, where he finished his professional playing career in 1963.
Playing for His Country
Abe Lenstra also played for the Dutch national team. He played in 47 matches and scored 33 goals for his country. He was known for being a strong-willed player. He would sometimes refuse to play for the national team if he wasn't chosen for the position he wanted to play in. He played alongside other great players like Faas Wilkes and Kees Rijvers.
A Legend in Heerenveen
Abe Lenstra was so important to sc Heerenveen that he helped put the club on the football map. Fans even lovingly called the club 'Abeveen' because of him.
Years after he stopped playing football, in 1977, Abe Lenstra became very ill. He had a brain haemorrhage, which is a type of bleeding in the brain. This meant he had to use a wheelchair for the rest of his life. He passed away in 1985. This was just a few days before the first international match was played in the stadium that would later be named after him.
Abe's Amazing Numbers
Abe Lenstra was a fantastic goal scorer. He played in 590 club matches and scored an incredible 576 goals! For the Dutch national team, he played 47 games and scored 33 goals. These numbers show just how talented he was as a striker.
Legacy
Today, Abe Lenstra's name is still strongly connected with sc Heerenveen. The club's stadium is called the Abe Lenstra Stadion. It was named in his honor as a lasting way to remember him and his amazing contributions to football.
Honours
Heerenveen
- Northern First Division: 1941–42, 1942–43, 1943–44, 1945–46, 1946–47, 1947–48, 1948–49, 1949–50, 1950–51
- Netherlands Football League Championship Runner-up: 1946–47, 1947–48
SC Enschede
- Eredivisie Runner-up: 1957–58
Individual
- Netherlands national team all-time top scorer: 1958–1959
- Dutch Sportsman of the Year: 1951, 1952
- Netherlands Football League Championship top scorer: 1946–47, 1947–48
See also
In Spanish: Abe Lenstra para niños
- List of men's footballers with 500 or more goals
