According to the club, their '00 defender Kik Pierie is American-born: Volledige naamKik Pierie Geboortedatum20 juli 2000 GeboortelandVerenigde Staten van Amerika https://www.sc-heerenveen.nl/voetbal/jeugdteams/c-junioren
Looks like his skill at "Kikball" earned him a look with the Dutch youth setup: Jeugdspeler Kik Pierie( foto) van sc Heerenveen neemt momenteel met Oranje onder 15 deel aan een vierlandentoernooi in Turkije. http://www.sc-heerenveen.nl/nieuws/kik-pierie-actief-met-oranje-onder-15/10
Huh? Whose name in the US hints at an American family? Everyone has a surname of foreign origins here be it English, Irish, German, Italian, Dutch, French, Nigerian, Chinese, Japanese, Egyptian, etc. etc.
Because he was born in the US, thus making him a dual citizen of the US and Netherlands. And for all we know one of his parents is American as well.
Transfermarkt says he has an older brother http://www.transfermarkt.com/stijn-pierie/profil/spieler/377302 Stijn is listed as having been born in Netherlands by transfermarkt and the Heerenveen website while the Heerenveen website lists that Kik was born in the USA. Does that mean Kik is eligible for the USA and Stijn isn't? Both are listed with the Heerenveen U-17's this season http://www.sc-heerenveen.nl/voetbal/jeugdteams/b-junioren
Certainly possible if the parents/grandparents have no other link to the US. Just like Desevio Payne is eligible for the US because he was born here, but his younger brothers aren't because they were born in the Netherlands (and dad is a naturalized citizen). The Paynes could move to the US to fix that, but probably not in the Pieries' case.
There's also a third and youngest brother, Take Pierie, an '03 who plays goalkeeper for SC Heerenveen "D-pupillen". O When The Yanks lists Take as eligible for the US, so it appears that Kik and Take are eligible for the US but Stijn might not be. It makes sense if Stijn was born in the Netherlands before the parents came to the US where Kik and Take were born. (Of course, if they have an American parent, then all three would be eligible.)
noticed this in the Heerenveen thread in the Dutch forum: Kik Pierie made his debut in Saturday's friendly against Drachtster Boys. He looks quite calm and poised with the on ball movement. Especially for a 15 year old playing alongside pro teammates. It's still a bit too early to expect he will remain with the senior team to begin the new season, but if he continues to show strides then definitely could be an option later on in 2017. Epitome990, Sunday at 8:10 AM #390
Here are the Pierie brothers, from left to right -- Kik, Take, Stijn. http://www.lc.nl/plus/De-Pieries-broers-bij-SC-Heerenveen-20933183.html According to this article, which you have to register to read, Stijn's idols are Xavi and Jordi Alba, Kik's is Jan Vertonghen, and Take's is Manuel Neuer. No mention of an American connection in this particular article. It does mention their father is a gastrointestinal, liver, and surgical oncologist at Medical Center Leeuwarden, the largest non-university hospital in all of the Netherlands. Pure speculation: maybe the father had a medical residency or fellowship in Boston, which is listed on Transfermarkt and other sources as Kik's birthplace? There are a number of very prominent hospitals there, including Boston Medical Center, Mass General, Brigham & Women's, and Tufts, to name a few. According to this, Kik is the youngest Heerenveen debutant in club history: http://www.fcupdate.nl/voetbalnieuws/300304/voetbaltalent-15-maakt-debuut-bij-sc-heerenveen/ Quite an accomplishment. He's definitely one for U.S. Soccer to watch out for.
So Kik's soccer idol is Jan Vertonghen -- and Kik's Transfermarkt page shows him as a left-footed center back who can also play left back, just like Vertonghen. Many of us surely remember Vertonghen vs. the US in the World Cup two years ago and how prolific he was on offense despite his left back position. And this kid, two weeks shy of 16 years old, already made his debut with an Eredivisie club. I really think the USSF should come calling if they haven't already. Here's a brief video feature on Kik's first team debut, including a clip showing him getting involved on offense:
According to this, Kik is among 30 players remaining, from which Heerenveen will have to select a 24-man roster for the beginning of the season: http://www.omropfryslan.nl/nijs/649182-15-jierrige-pierie-debutearret-yn-it-earste-fan-hearrenfean To pile on top of the hype train, this article calls him "the future of Dutch football": https://blendle.com/i/reporters-online/kik-pierie-een-ster-is-geboren/bnl-tpomagazine-20160704-93032 And then there's this: http://www.lc.nl/sport/Kik-Pierie-millimeter-dichter-bij-wereldtop-21474404.html
I know it's awful early in his development to really determine if he will live up to the hype, but maybe we should try to get this kid involved in our youth teams asap.
It looks like Kik has a real chance to make SC Heerenveen's first team. Voetbal.nl lists him as a new transfer yesterday into Heerenveen for 2016-17, arriving from Heerenveen B-junioren. A profile has been created for him on the website for Heerenveen's first team, and he's in the official 16-17 team photo. He's also now listed with the first team on Heerenveen's Wiki page. http://www.voetbal.com/teams/sc-heerenveen/2017/6/ https://www.sc-heerenveen.nl/voetbal/selectie/spelers Back row, the first guy right of center: Edit: and yes, Heerenveen's uniform sponsor is called "Kika."