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Dick Schoenaker (born November 30, 1952 in Ede, Gelderland) is a retired football midfielder from the Netherlands, who represented his native country at the 1978 FIFA World Cup in Argentina, wearing the number three jersey. His football-career started at Wageningen and De Graafschap Doetinchem. He was bought by Ajax Amsterdam by leaving Ajax-coach Rinus Michels at the end of the 1975/1976 season. He went to Ajax summer 1976, simultaneously with Hans Erkens and Johan Zuidema and has been by far the most successful of the 3 midfielders, their first Ajax-coach being Tomislav Ivic. Schoenaker displayed unbridled energy at the midfield, a rumbled ability to run, the vigour as attacking midfielder to disturb players of the opponent (defensive work) sometimes reconquering balls, achieved a high quote in scored goals per match and had been a very sporting player. Also he has been captain of Ajax (1983-1984 and 1984-1985, his 9th and final season at Ajax). In Schoenaker's 9 seasons at Ajax, he won 6 (!) Dutch Eredivisie championship titles (seasons 1976-1977, 1978-1979, 1979-1980, 1981-1982, 1982-1983, 1984-1985) and 2 Dutch Cups (KNVB-Cups) (seasons 1978-1979, 1982-1983). In the period 1976-1985 Ajax also lost 3 Dutch Cup-finals (KNVB Cup-finals) (seasons 1977-1978, 1979-1980, 1980-1981). European successes were scarce this period: 2 best achievements: semi-final European Cup I for Champions (season 1979-1980), quarter final European Cup I for Champions (season 1977-1978). In the season 1978-1979 Ajax was eliminated in the 3rd round of the European Cup III (=UEFA-Cup)-Tournament, and in the season 1984-1985 Red Boys Differdange was beaten with 14-0 (returnmatch 1st round EuropeanCup III (=UEFA-Cup)-Tournament), a Dutch record, but in the 2nd round of that tournament Ajax already was eliminated. Summer 1985 Schoenaker went to play for FC Twente Enschede, where he ended his career. Schoenaker obtained a total number of thirteen caps, scoring six goals.
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