The midfielder and long-time Netherlands captain announced her retirement from football two weeks before Tuesday’s friendly against Canada.
Sherida Spitse, who debuted for Oranje in 2006 aged 16, played her 248th and final Netherlands game against Canada, an opponent from the 2019 World Cup, at which the Netherlands reached the first World Cup final in women’s football history.
Spitse’s Netherlands career spanned 19 years and saw her lead the country to its first piece of silverware with a famous win at the 2017 European Championships, held in the Netherlands. The versatile Spitse, who plays both as a defender and a midfielder, became the country’s most capped player in 2019, overtaking Annemieke Kiesel-Griffioen with her 157th appearance for the Netherlands.
In total, Spitse scored 46 goals for Oranje – the fourth-most – and played 32 games across seven tournaments, more than any player in Dutch history.
“From 100 to 35,000 in the stadium”
Spitse’s final standing ovation as Netherlands captain came in the 49th minute, when manager Arjan Veurink took the 35-year-old off for Chelsea talent Veerle Buurman and let the veteran leave with a guard of honour.
“Here we are…”, Spitse said to start her farewell speech following Oranje’s victory.
“Dear Oranje fans, this was my last match. Fortunately, it ended in victory, which is always lovely. I want to thank you all so much for all these years, from 2006 with 100 people to 35,000 in the stadium. I am very grateful to you all. I have always felt that connection with you.”
“I hope you will continue to support this fantastic team, even though I am no longer there. You won’t hear that endless shouting anymore. But I will continue to shout for these girls from the couch. I love you all. Thank you, friends and fans – I love you!”
Aston Villa full-back Lynn Wilms tapped in the game’s only goal in the 28th minute following a fabulous assist from Barcelona’s Esmee Brugts.
