Klaas-Jan Huntelaar made his comeback on the football field last weekend at amateur association HC’03 from Drempt. The 38-year-old top striker, who has still not officially announced his retirement as a professional football player, played with the sixth Sunday team in the won game against Concordia Wehl.
“He has deliberately stayed out of publicity lately and has quietly said goodbye to professional football”, chairman and teammate Mart de Kruif of HC’03 tells. Region8. “He just wants to play football now. The club is a warm bath. He doesn’t need anything, he can do anything.” The chairman confirms that the 76-time international has been registered with his old football club since last week. The former top striker made his debut last Sunday during a 3-1 win against Concordia 10. “I don’t think he scored, but I wasn’t there myself,” said De Kruif.
Huntelaar plays with his brother in the sixth team of HC’03. It is a team that consists of players between 20 and 25 years old, and veterans. “Including myself, at 63 years old, I am the oldest,” said the chairman. “It’s a super nice team with a good third half.” According to the chairman, the presence of Huntelaar is not surprised at the football association. “He came here often, it’s not that startling to us.”
Huntelaar, now 38, has played for top clubs such as AC Milan and Real Madrid during his professional career. In January 2021 he left Ajax to protect Schalke 04 from relegation. This turned out to be an impossible mission, after which the former professional football player decided to leave Gelsenkirchen. De Graafschap, among others, tried in vain to tempt Huntelaar to return. However, there was still a comeback on the Achterhoekse fields, but then at amateur association HC’03.
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