GN Soccer Magazine September 2014 Edition | Page 18

18

3
ERIK PIETERS
DEFENDER
Nationality: Dutch
DoB: 07/08/1988
Height: 6’0” (183cm)
Weight: 13st 1 lb (83kg)
DUTCH international defender Erik Pieters became Mark Hughes’ first major signing for
the Club in June 2013 after agreeing terms on a four-year contract at the Britannia Stadium.
His first season in the Potteries was a fruitful one as he played a crucial role in helping the
Club to a first ever Premier League top-ten finish after arriving from Dutch giants PSV Eindhoven in a £3 million deal.
It was during his time in Eindhoven, for whom he represented almost 150 times, that Erik
really rose to prominence, having established himself as one of the league’s most impressive defenders and attracting the attention of a host of top European sides including Arsenal and Lyon in the process.
It was with PSV’s Eredivisie rivals FC Utrecht that the Tiel-born star began his professional
playing career, agreeing a deal with them in the summer of 2006 after their scouting team
spotted his talents early amongst the juvenile ranks of VV Rhelico.
Just 12 days after his 18th birthday Erik was handed his senior debut for his new side in a
narrow 2-1 defeat against Willem II, and he followed that up with a further 28 appearances in all competitions in what was his maiden campaign.
A further 35 appearances, and two goals followed during the 2007/08 season as he continued to display the talents that had already impressed scouts from both Ajax Amsterdam
and PSV Eindhoven.
A battle for his signature was ultimately won by PSV in July 2008 however, with a deal of
around £1.5 million being agreed between the two parties.
The move capped off a wonderful twelve months for the full-back who was named as
Utrecht’s Player of the Year, as well as lifting the European Under 21 Championship Trophy
after helping his native Holland to success in their homeland.
Ironically, Erik’s PSV debut came against his former employers in an emphatic 5-1 victory,
prior to being handed his first taste of Champions League football just three weeks later in
the mouth-watering encounter with Athletico Madrid.
In all, Erik made 23 appearances during his inaugural season with PSV, and built upon
that figure significantly over the next two seasons (42 appearances in 2009/10 and 48
appearances in 2010/11).
During that time he received the first of his 17 full interna