Niek Schiks: From Field Player to Goalkeeper at PSV

omidbasir- Niek Schiks has stepped into the role of goalkeeper for PSV in recent weeks due to the absence of both Matej Kovár and Nick Olij. Behind the 22-year-old keeper lies a remarkable story. He initially joined the Eindhoven academy as a field player.

Schiks entered PSV’s youth academy at the age of eight in 2012. His youth coach, Tim Wolf, recognized his potential and decided to position him as a goalkeeper after observing him play for fun in goal during training sessions. Encouraged by the club, Schiks embraced this new position and fully committed to goalkeeping starting from the Under-13 level.

As a player, however, Schiks eventually faced the prospect of not continuing in his original position. Wolf supported him in the decision to transition to being a goalkeeper, saying, “As a player, he had ultimately fallen short, so I asked him: what would happen if you couldn’t continue as a player, but could stay on as a goalkeeper? In PSV’s youth system, you are generally better than your opponent, which allows you to create an additional player on the field with a goalkeeper who can play with his feet.”