Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 20, 2026

Kees Smit

Kees Henricus Petrus Smit is a Dutch footballer who plays as a midfielder for Eredivisie club AZ and the Netherlands national team.

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Kees Smit
Smit with AZ in 2025
Personal information
Full name Kees Henricus Petrus Smit1
Date of birth (2006-01-20) 20 January 2006
Place of birth Heiloo, Netherlands
Height 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 AZ
Number 26
Youth career
2015–2023 AZ
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2023– Jong AZ 46 (10)
2024– AZ 47 (3)
International career‡
2021–2022 Netherlands U16 6 (0)
2022–2023 Netherlands U17 7 (0)
2023 Netherlands U18 3 (0)
2024–2025 Netherlands U19 16 (4)
2025– Netherlands U21 2 (0)
2026– Netherlands 1 (0)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  Netherlands
UEFA European Under-19 Championship
Winner 2025
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 3 May 2026
‡ National team caps and goals as of 27 March 2026

Kees Henricus Petrus Smit (born 20 January 2006) is a Dutch footballer who plays as a midfielder for Eredivisie club AZ and the Netherlands national team.2

Club career

From Heiloo, Smit joined the academy at AZ Alkmaar at nine years-old in 2015. He then became the youngest member of their under-12 squad.3 After progressing through the ranks at AZ, he signed a three-and-a-half-year professional contract in January 2021.45

In December 2022, Smit was included with the first team squad on their mid-season break travelling training party to Valencia, Spain.6 In January 2023, a goal Smit scored in a five-a-side indoor game went viral due to its unusual nature, as he beat the outrushing goalkeeper with shot rebounded from the side wall.789 Later that month, Smit made his professional debut for Jong AZ in the Eerste Divisie in a home match against Helmond Sport, on 23 January 2023.1011

With AZ under-19s playing in the UEFA Youth League he was part of the team that beat Barcelona and Real Madrid on consecutive rounds to reach the semi-finals in March 2023.121314 Smit scored a long range goal in the UEFA Youth League last-sixteen tie against Barcelona that brought praise.151617 He also played in the UEFA Youth League final against Hajduk Split as AZ ran out 5–0 winners.18

He made his UEFA Europa League debut for AZ Alkmaar on 7 November 2024 in a 3–1 home win against Fenerbahçe, scoring the second goal and being credited with an assist for the third.19 He played in the final of the KNVB Cup as AZ lost to Go Ahead Eagles on penalties on 21 April 2025. The game had ended 1–1 in normal time after Go Ahead Eagles scored a 98th-minute equaliser.20 The following season, he played in the 2026 KNVB Cup final, and this time scored in a 5–1 win over NEC Nijmegen on 19 April 2026.21

International career

In November 2021, Smit played for the Netherlands national under-16 football team against the Belgian under-16s.22 Smit has since been selected for the Dutch U17s.2324 Smit played for the Dutch U19s during the 2025 UEFA European Under-19 Championship which they won for the first time, Smit became player of the tournament.25

Smit made his senior international debut for the Dutch national team starting in a 2–1 friendly win against Norway on 27 March 2026.26

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 3 May 2026
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League KNVB Cup Europe Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Jong AZ 2022–23 Eerste Divisie 4 0 — — — 4 0
2023–24 Eerste Divisie 29 2 — — — 29 2
2024–25 Eerste Divisie 13 8 — — — 13 8
Total 46 10 — — — 46 10
AZ 2023–24 Eredivisie 1 0 — — — 1 0
2024–25 Eredivisie 20 0 3 1 7a 1 — 30 2
2025–26 Eredivisie 26 3 4 2 16b 0 — 46 5
Total 47 3 7 3 23 1 — 77 7
Career total 93 13 7 3 23 1 0 0 123 17
  1. Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  2. Appearances in UEFA Conference League

International

As of match played 27 March 202627
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Netherlands 2026 1 0
Total 1 0

Honours

AZ

Netherlands U19

Individual

References

References

  1. "UEFA Conference League 2025/2026: Booking List before League Phase MatchDay 4" (PDF). UEFA. 27 November 2025. p. 1. Retrieved 28 November 2025.
  2. "Kees Smit". Soccerway. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  3. "Speler van de Maand: Kees Smit". az.nl. 18 November 2022. Archived from the original on 27 September 2023. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  4. "Kees Smit signs first contract with AZ". deforesters.nl. February 2021. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  5. "AZ bindt Smit". 29 January 2021. Archived from the original on 31 January 2021. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  6. "AZ geeft talenten weer de kans: zestienjarige mee op trainingskamp". vi.nl. 17 December 2022. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  7. "AZ jeugdspeler Smit steelt show bij 5 tegen 5-toernooi met déze slimme goal". sportnieuws.nl. 9 January 2023. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  8. "Smit rough edges Brilliant goal from Alkmaar youth player in the hall". 11freunde.de. 9 January 2023. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  9. Hörmann, Daniel (9 January 2023). "Video: Freches Tor über Bande bei Jugendhallenturnier". Fumsmagazin. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  10. Brinkman, Erik -Jan (27 January 2023). "Double feeling for Young AZ talent Kees Smit after special week: "Boy's dream"". nhnieuws.nl. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  11. "AZ II VS. HELMOND 1-1". Soccerway. 23 January 2023. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  12. "Daniël Beukers klopt met AZ Barcelona". 2 March 2023. Retrieved 16 March 2023.
  13. "El AZ Alkmaar repite la misma receta para dejar fuera al Madrid". besoccer.com. 16 March 2023. Retrieved 16 March 2023.
  14. "Lewis Schouten en Daniël Breukers smaakmakers bij Youth League/sensatie". telegraaf.nl. 16 March 2023. Retrieved 16 March 2023.
  15. "Youth League: The incredible goal of the central circle of Kees Smit which surprises Barça!". beinsports.com. 1 March 2023. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  16. Van Poppel, Jeroen (1 March 2023). "Kees Smit enchants Johan Cruijff stadium with an unparalleled goal against Barcelona". Archived from the original on 17 March 2023. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  17. "Wondergoal! AZ-talent Kees Smit (17) schiet vanuit middencirkel raak tegen FC Barcelona in Youth League". sportnieuws.nl. 1 March 2023. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  18. "UEFA Youth League final report: AZ Alkmaar 5-0 Hajduk Split". UEFA. 24 April 2023. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
  19. "Effective AZ thanks in part to 18-year-old star Smit past Fenerbahçe: 3-1". Nos.nl. 7 November 2024. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
  20. "Go Ahead Eagles Win The KNVB Cup". Football-Oranje. 21 April 2025. Retrieved 21 April 2025.
  21. Winters, Paul (19 April 2026). "AZ soar to win fifth KNVB Beker as NEC extend record with sixth lost final". Flash Score. Retrieved 19 April 2026.
  22. "Oefeninterlands, seizoen 2021/22". onsoranje.nl. 23 November 2021. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  23. Fleming, Connor (8 January 2023). "This is one of the most satisfyingly inventive indoor goals ever". the18.com. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  24. "Update: zeven AZ'ers in voorlopige selectie Oranje Onder 17". az.nl. 4 March 2023. Archived from the original on 19 March 2023. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  25. "Netherlands' Kees Smit named UEFA European Under-19 Championship Player of the Tournament". uefa.com. 26 June 2025. Retrieved 28 March 2026.
  26. Hughes, Simon (27 March 2026). "Netherlands 2 Norway 1 – How are the Dutch looking for the World Cup? How good is Kees Smit?". The Athletic. Retrieved 28 March 2026.
  27. Kees Smit at National-Football-Teams.com
  28. "Parrott, Koopmeiners shine as AZ Alkmaar wins KNVB Cup after 13 years". Sport Star. Retrieved 20 April 2026.
  29. "Under-19 EURO final report: Netherlands edge Spain for first title". UEFA. 26 June 2025. Retrieved 28 June 2025.
  30. "2025 Under-19 EURO finals top scorers: Said El Mala, Pablo Garcia, Max Moerstedt, Kees Smit". UEFA. 26 June 2025. Retrieved 28 June 2025.
  31. "Netherlands' Kees Smit named UEFA European Under-19 Championship Player of the Tournament". UEFA. 26 June 2025. Retrieved 28 June 2025.
  32. "2025 Under-19 EURO Team of the Tournament". UEFA. 29 June 2025. Retrieved 29 June 2025.
  33. "Kees Smit named 2025/26 UEFA Conference League Revelation of the Season". UEFA. 28 May 2026. Retrieved 29 May 2026.
  34. "2025/26 UEFA Conference League Team of the Season". UEFA. 28 May 2026. Retrieved 29 May 2026.