Dick Nanninga Explained

Dick Nanninga
Fullname:Dirk Jacobus Willem Nanninga
Birth Date:1949 1, df=yes
Birth Place:Groningen, Netherlands
Death Place:Maaseik, Belgium
Position:Forward
Years1:1973–1974
Clubs1:Veendam
Caps1:31
Goals1:15
Years2:1974–1982
Clubs2:Roda JC
Caps2:225
Goals2:107
Years3:1982–1983
Clubs3:Seiko
Caps3:28
Goals3:15
Years4:1983–1986
Clubs4:MVV
Caps4:67
Goals4:26
Totalcaps:343
Totalgoals:150
Nationalyears1:1978–1981
Nationalteam1:Netherlands
Nationalcaps1:15
Nationalgoals1:6

Dirk Jacobus Willem "Dick" Nanninga (17 January 1949 – 21 July 2015) was a Dutch footballer who played as a forward. At club level, he played for Dutch sides BV Veendam, Roda JC and MVV Maastricht. He also had a short spell with Hong Kong club Seiko. At international level, he represented the Netherlands at the 1978 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 1980.

Career

Nanninga earned 15 caps and scored 6 goals for the Netherlands national football team.[1] In the 1978 FIFA World Cup final against Argentina in Buenos Aires, he scored the equalizing goal in normal time, but Argentina went on to win 3–1 in extra time.

In the same World Cup, Nanninga became the first substitute player to be sent off, 7 minutes after coming on against West Germany. He and Bernd Hölzenbein clashed as the Dutch took a free kick and Nanninga was shown the yellow card. He was then reported to have laughed at the referee's decision. Confusion reigned, as he was ordered off.

He is Roda JC's all time topscorer having scored 107 goals in 225 matches for the Kerkrade-based club.

Health issues and death

In 2012 Nanninga went into a coma and only regained consciousness five months later. Due to diabetes his left lower leg had to be amputated.[2] In 2014 his right lower leg also had to be amputated.[3] His death was announced on 21 July 2015.[2]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Dick Nanninga – 17 januari 1949 . 29 June 2009 . bot: unknown . https://web.archive.org/web/20090328004955/http://www.voetbalstats.nl/nedxi/sp359.html . 28 March 2009 . . voetbalstats.nl
  2. Web site: Dick Nanninga (66) overleden . nl . . 21 July 2015 . 21 July 2015.
  3. News: Dick Nanninga overleden . nl . . 21 July 2015 . 21 July 2015.