Teunis Pieter van Leeuwen (21 March 1943 – 15 June 1971) was a Dutch footballer who played as a goalkeeper for GVAV Groningen and Sparta Rotterdam.[1] He made two appearances for the Netherlands national team in 1967.[2]
Van Leeuwen was born in Gouda, South Holland, the son of a furniture maker, and grew up in the working-class neighbourhood of Korte Akkeren .[3] He played for local clubs Jodan Boys and Vv ONA before signing for Sparta Rotterdam.[3]
At Sparta Rotterdam, van Leeuwen was brought in as an understudy to Andries van DijkPim Doesburg and wanted to leave the club.[3]
.[3] Due to van Dijk's injuries he got more playing time than planned and made his senior debut on 1 May 1960 against DWS at the age of 17, keeping a clean sheet in a 0–0 draw.[3] Following an injury, van Leeuwen lost his place as number 1 goalkeeper toIn 1963 van Leeuwen joined GVAV Groningen as a replacement for Otto Roffel .[3] Groningen paid a transfer fee of 87,500 guilders to Sparta Rotterdam.[3] In the 1969–70 season, he suffered relegation from the Eredivisie with Groningen.[3] Despite offers from other clubs such as Belgian side Anderlecht, he remained at Groningen.[3] In the 1970–71 season he conceded just seven goals – record low number of goals conceded in a season of any major European division –,[4] keeping 23 clean sheets[3] while Groningen achieved promotion back to the Eredivisie.[4] His performances earned him the 1971 Goalkeeper of the Year award.[3]
Van Leeuwen was first called up to the Netherlands national team in 1964.[4] A long suspension he received for striking an opponent delayed his debut.[4] He made his debut on 5 April 1967, in a match against East Germany.[3] The Netherlands lost 4–3 after leading 2–0 with van Leeuwen being criticised for not dealing well with high balls played into the penalty area.[3][4] He made his second appearance against Hungary, asking to be substituted at halftime with The Netherlands losing 2–0.[3] Van Leeuwen claimed he had sustained an injury to his shoulder but it later transpired that he was nervous.[3][4]
Van Leeuwen was known for his exceptional reflexes, his control of the penalty area and his charisma.[3]
Van Leeuwen is considered a cultural icon of Groningen.[3] A grandstand, a train and a street were named after him and a statue of him stands in front of FC Groningen's Euroborg stadium.[3]
Van Leeuwen had two children, Harold and Irma, with his wife Gerie.[3] In the 1990s it was revealed that he had had a third child, Richard Vennema, with another woman called Karla Vennema.[5] Richard also played football as a goalkeeper.[5] A semi-professional footballer, van Leeuwen worked as a representative at sporting goods manufacturer Quick.[3]
He died at the age of 28 after crashing his car head-on into a truck loaded with concrete pipes on the wrong side of the road in the early morning of 15 June 1971.[3] He was on his way home from the ceremony where he received the 1971 Goalkeeper of the Year award.[3] His wife survived the crash.[3]