Dick Nanninga

Dirk "Dick" Jacobus Willem Nanninga (17 January 1949 – 21 July 2015) was a Dutch footballer, who played for the Dutch clubs BV Veendam, Roda JC and MVV Maastricht. He also had a short spell with Hong Kong club Seiko.

Dick Nanninga
Dick Nanninga 1978color.jpg
Dick Nanninga in 1978
Personal information
Full nameDirk Jacobus Willem Nanninga
Date of birth(1949-01-17)17 January 1949
Place of birthGroningen, Netherlands
Date of death21 July 2015(2015-07-21) (aged 66)
Place of deathMaaseik, Belgium
Playing positionAttacking Midfielder
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
1973–1974Veendam31(15)
1974–1982Roda JC225(107)
1982–1983Seiko28(15)
1983–1986MVV67(26)
Total343(150)
National team
1978–1981Netherlands15(6)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

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

In 2012 Nanninga went into a coma and only regained conscience five months later. Due to diabetes his left lower leg had to be amputated.[2]

Having lost left lower leg, he was asked what he missed most about not having a leg. The answer went along the lines of, "..er, well, actually eh..., the lower part."[3] In 2014 his right lower leg also had to be amputated.[4] His death was announced on 21 July 2015.[2]

References

  1. "Dick Nanninga – 17 januari 1949". Archived from the original on 2009-03-28. Retrieved 2015-07-21.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link). voetbalstats.nl
  2. 2.0 2.1 "Dick Nanninga (66) overleden" (in Nederlands). Nederlandse Omroep Stichting. 21 July 2015. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
  3. May 20, 2014, Netherlands TV, Nederland 1; (VARA) De wereld draait door. http://dewerelddraaitdoor.vara.nl/gemist
  4. "Dick Nanninga overleden". De Telegraaf (in Nederlands). 21 July 2015. Archived from the original on 23 July 2015. Retrieved 21 July 2015.