Dick Schoenaker

Dirk "Dick" Hendricus Schoenaker (born November 30, 1952 in Ede, Gelderland) is a retired football midfielder from the Netherlands, who represented his native country at the 1978 FIFA World Cup in Argentina, wearing the number three jersey.

Career

His football-career started at Wageningen and De Graafschap Doetinchem. He was bought by Ajax Amsterdam by leaving Ajax-coach Rinus Michels at the end of the 1975/1976 season. He went to Ajax summer 1976, simultaneously with Hans Erkens and Johan Zuidema and has been by far the most successful of the 3 midfielders, their first Ajax-coach being Tomislav Ivic. Schoenaker displayed unbridled energy at the midfield, a rumbled ability to run, the vigour as attacking midfielder to disturb players of the opponent (defensive work) sometimes reconquering balls, achieved a high quote in scored goals per match and had been a very sporting player.

Also he has been captain of Ajax (1983–1984 and 1984–1985, his 9th and final season at Ajax). In Schoenaker's 9 seasons at Ajax, he won 6 Dutch Eredivisie championship titles (seasons 1976-1977, 1978–1979, 1979–1980, 1981–1982, 1982–1983, 1984–1985) and 2 Dutch Cups (KNVB-Cups) (seasons 1978-1979, 1982–1983). In the period 1976-1985 Ajax also lost 3 Dutch Cup-finals (KNVB Cup-finals) (seasons 1977-1978, 1979–1980, 1980–1981).