Tweet from Steven Goff at Soccer Insider: Spain-based teens Johan Ramirez Neeskens (US-born son of ex-Dutch star) & D Oriol Rosell (Barca B) trialing with Sporting KC #mls Neeskens papa was a Dutch international who played for the Ajax, Barcelona and the Cosmos. He's been coaching since he retired. He doesn't appear to have been based in the US when son would have been born, but we take 'em where we can. No info on the son in TransferMarkt, at least that I can find.
A little more info from the Twitterverse: @AndyEdSKC: Neeskens is the son of Johannes Neeskens, who played for the KC Comets for two years in the 80’s. Looks to be an 18 y/o left midfielder.
If he a half a player his dad was, he would be the best American player ever. But then, why would he be trailing with KC?
Maybe we can bring him into the national team with young Klinsmann and a couple of Beckhams. Too bad Ronaldo's American son will be too young to join them.
George Weah, Jr. can coach. Mamadou Diallo's kid wants to play for the US, by the way: http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/what-ever-happened-mamadou-diallo World Cup 2026 here we come!
Looks like he popped back up in MLS after playing for CF Badalona in Spain: http://www.coloradorapids.com/news/2014/03/rapids-welcome-neeskens-and-piermayr-trial And he might just lose his YA status: 453588127550955520 is not a valid tweet id He plays LB or left midfield.
Took a while to close the deal, but he's no longer a YA: http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/artic...d-defender-john-neeskens-son-dutch-great-joha Neeskens was born in Tulsa, Okla., and has citizenship in the US, Spain, and the Netherlands, and will not count as an International Player on the Rapids roster. Rare YA born in Oklahoma. And you have to wonder how he ended up being born in Oklahoma? Dad was coaching a team in Switzerland (both Zug and FC Stäfa during the approximate time, according to Wikipedia). He was last officially in the US in 1986 with the KC Comets. Sure it's an interesting tale.
FWIW, at the 1978 WC, after the Best Player winner Mario Kempes, Neeskens and Robbie Rensenbrink - two more ex-NASL players - were the likely MVP candidates. An amazing player in his heyday.
In searching for an odd story, I found papa's wife and she is Swiss and the kids listed in various bios didn't match and didn't include John. With the "Ramirez" in there, I am guessing some Latin involvement. I did see that the Swiss wife is wife #2, but they were married from well before the time John would have been born and were still married as of 2006. The 2006 bio did not include John in the list of his kids.
To add some intrigue, his Wikipedia page says that Johannes denies that Johan is his son. Here's a rough translation from the Dutch page that supposedly denies the parentage: Several local and foreign media mention 'the son of Johan Neeskens'. The Neeskens have refuted these reports on their own website. In the past year are regular reports in the press about a supposed son of Johan Neeskens who plays soccer in Spain. The Neeskens family has responded that they have a healthy son, Armand Georges Neeskens, more than 18 years residing with them in Istanbul and plays soccer at Galatasaray. http://www.vi.nl/nieuws/Neeskens-verschaft-duidelijkheid-over-nageslacht.htm
Ah... I see. The ole "I didn't knock her up bit". Sucks for the kid to have had to probably deal with that his whole life.
Hard to deny the kid isn't Johan's. I have tickets behind the Rapids bench, not 25 feet away, and the few times John's been among the subs -- I've said numerous time he looks like his "Dad". You be the judge:
He has most recently been part of the Cosmos B squad that just won the NPSL title: http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/artic...referral&utm_content=News&utm_campaign=Unpaid
Back to Spain, it seems: Neeskens, de la galaxia a Gavà https://t.co/Hn09up9W5H#2BG3 #futbolcat #SegundaB pic.twitter.com/yRawr91D9j— Havok - Blog CF Gavà (@havokcfgava) July 9, 2016
I guess modeling is among his skills: El futbolista @JohnNeeskens con una de las camisas de la nueva campaña Otoño - Invierno. ¿Qué os parece? #FW2016 #fallwinter2016 pic.twitter.com/Xe6SYrrh4I— Macson (@macsonshop) September 29, 2016
According to zerozero there's another Dutch footballing star in his family: Filho de Johan Neeskens, Cunhado de Ricky van Wolfswinkel Son of Johan Neeskens, Brother in law of Ricky van Wolfswinkel http://www.zerozero.pt/player.php?id=345492&epoca_id=0&search=1 Apparently, the elder Neeskens is responsible for RVW's move from Sporting to Norwich City in 2013 when. Not exactly sure what his connection is with the club (never played for/managed them): http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/23132023 That was back in 2013 so I guess the young couple eventually wed. Also, this:
Seems he has returned to Spain: From CF Gavà we are pleased to inform that as of this week the players John Neeskens and Zachary Hadji will be part of the squad and will be available to coach Óscar Mena for the rest of the season, once processed their federal cards. http://cfgava.com/comunicado-oficial-9/ CF Gava is Tercera División – Group 5, the 4th tier of Spanish football.
Made team of the week: John Neeskens y Eric Alcaraz elegidos en el XI ideal de la jornada para la prensa deportiva! Enormes!💪💪🔝🔴🔵 pic.twitter.com/IHeWSoyxHz— CF Gavà (@CFGava_oficial) May 9, 2017
Ok... so It is still unconfirmed he's Neeskens son? And is he "officially" American eligible (what's his national team status at this point)? Thanks in advance.
He's born in the US, so he's certainly US eligible. He's not likely to be called into any of the teams he is eligible for (he says US, Spain & Netherlands) without a huge leap in performance. Dad says the boy is not his. He wasn't working in the US at the time, but there has to be a story behind this whole thing. If Sonny got a Dutch passport, it's likely he or his mom had to convince some authority that he is Johannes' son (or some other Dutch dude).
Switched teams to FC Santboia, within the same tier of Spain: Fitxatge 🚩 John Neeskens @johnneeskens procedent del @CFGava_oficial , nova incorporació del @FClubSantboia #futbolcat #3div5 #santboi pic.twitter.com/YT1GVpNsv5— Futbol Club Santboià (@FClubSantboia) August 29, 2017
Started today as Santaboia visited Horta in Tercera Division (group 5) in a losing cause 2 - 1 in favor of Horta - Santaboia's first loss in a while
Came off the bench at 54' and Scored Santboia' only goal, forcing a draw at 1 - 1 against visitors Palamos CF in Spain's Tercera