Folkert Velten
Folkert Velten (born 25 August 1964) is a Dutch former professional football player and coach.
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Date of birth | 25 August 1964 | ||
Place of birth | Enter, Netherlands[1] | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
Enter Vooruit | |||
1988–1997 | Heracles Almelo | ||
Teams managed | |||
VV Bergentheim | |||
Blauw Wit'66 | |||
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only |
Career
After playing amateur football for Enter Vooruit, he turned professional at the age of 23 after signing with Heracles Almelo.[2] He had previously been offered a contract by the club at the age of 18, but he declined as matches were played on Sundays and this conflicted with his Christian beliefs.[3] Between 1988 and 1997 he scored 221 goals in 377 games for the club.[2] The club moved their games to Saturdays so he could play.[3] He was top scorer in the Eerste Divisie in 1989.[2] He retired from playing after breaking his leg.[2]
Later life
After working as a scout for Heracles, he became a football coach, managing amateur team VV Bergentheim in 2008.[2] In 2012, he worked in the maintenance department at a petting zoo in Enter, and was coach of amateur team Blauw Wit'66.[4]
Personal life
A practising Christian, Velten refused to play football on Sundays.[2] A member of the Dutch Reformed Church, as a child his father wanted him to go to church twice on Sundays.[3] Velten only went once, in the morning, because he would watch and play football in the evening with his siblings.[3]
References
- 'Als ik al die koptelefoons zie, zakt me de broek af', interview at Voetbal International, 2015
- "Folkert Velten; Gij zult niet scoren op zondag" (in Dutch). Doordebenen. 24 June 2008. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
- "Folkert Velten: "Nooit op zondag, alleen op zaterdag"" (in Dutch). Siekmann. 22 September 2014. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
- "Folkert Velten kijkt bekerfinale thuis" (in Dutch). Nu. 6 April 2012. Retrieved 17 October 2015.