Sieb Dijkstra

Biography

Sieb's career began with Dutch side Roda JC, but after struggling to break into the first team, he went out on loan to AZ Alkmaar and Hasselt KSC. Tommy McLean, then manager of Motherwell, brought the keeper to Scotland in August 1991 as a replacement for Ally Maxwell, who was involved in a contract dispute with the club. Originally second choice behind former United keeper Billy Thomson, he made the No.1 jersey his own a year later and remained first choice until his move to Queens Park Rangers for £350,000 in June 1994. Appearances were limited during his two years…Read moreRead less
Sieb's career began with Dutch side Roda JC, but after struggling to break into the first team, he went out on loan to AZ Alkmaar and Hasselt KSC. Tommy McLean, then manager of Motherwell, brought the keeper to Scotland in August 1991 as a replacement for Ally Maxwell, who was involved in a contract dispute with the club. Originally second choice behind former United keeper Billy Thomson, he made the No.1 jersey his own a year later and remained first choice until his move to Queens Park Rangers for £350,000 in June 1994.

Appearances were limited during his two years at Loftus Road, and he was farmed out on loan to both Bristol City then Wycombe Wanderers. When Tommy McLean took over as manager at United, Sieb became his fourth signing in December 1996 in a deal reported to be worth £100,000, ironically replacing Ally Maxwell once more as first choice keeper. The Dutchman made his debut three days later against Kilmarnock at Rugby Park. and played in every match throughout the rest of the season, helping United finish in third place in the Premier Division and qualify for Europe.

A big keeper who commanded his penalty box, he became a cult hero at Tannadice, and collected a runners-up medal after the defeat to Celtic in the 1997 League Cup final at Ibrox. He was an ever-present throughout the 1997-98 season and started off the 1998-99 season as first choice keeper, before being displaced by Alan Combe for a spell late in 1998. Back into the first team in January, he played in most games through until the last game of the season, where manager Paul Sturrock gave him a cameo as a substitute for his final appearance to say goodbye to the fans.

Leaving United when his contract expired, he had a trial with Ipswich Town before returning to the Netherlands to play for VV Sittard and RBC Roosendaal. He finished his career with German side Germania Teveren in 2002, later becoming a goalkeeping coach in Holland.

Statistics

Apps
112 (1)
Goals
-
Yellow cards
6
Red cards
-
Goals/game
-
Minutes
10,235
Seasons
3
Clean sheets
34
SeasonAppsGoalsYellow cardsRed cards
1998-9935 (1)010
1997-9849030
1996-9728020

Club spells

First Spell

Joined: 4 Dec 1996 · Left: 31 May 1999

Midway through the 1996-97 season, Sieb joined United from Queen's Park Rangers in a deal reported to be worth £100,000.Sieb left United at the end of his contract, and a few months later he was cleared to return to the Netherlands.

Other clubs played for

Managers played under

ManagerFirst appearanceMost recent appearanceApps
Tommy McLean7 Dec 199630 Aug 199883
Paul Sturrock12 Sep 199823 May 199929 (1)

Squad numbers by season

  1. 1998-99

Timeline

  1. Born

    Kerkrade, Netherlands

  2. Signed

  3. First competitive appearance · First competitive clean sheet

    Kilmarnock 0–2 Dundee United

    · Premier Division · Rugby Park

    Normally, the last thing you want to be facing is a side which has just parted company with their manager,but that was the task in prospect at Rugby Park where Alex Totten had been toppled as Bobby Williamson had been installed as caretaker boss. However,…

  4. Recorded contract end

Appearances (113)

DateHomeScoreAwayCompetitionResult
23 May 1999 Dundee Utd 1–2 Celtic SPL1998-99 L
1 May 1999 Dundee Utd 0–2 Dundee SPL1998-99 L
24 Apr 1999 Dunfermline 2–2 Dundee Utd SPL1998-99 D
20 Apr 1999 Dundee Utd 0–1 St Johnstone SPL1998-99 L
17 Apr 1999 Aberdeen 0–4 Dundee Utd SPL1998-99 W
10 Apr 1999Neutral venue Celtic 2–0 Dundee Utd Scottish Cup1998-99 L
6 Apr 1999 Dundee Utd 1–3 Hearts SPL1998-99 L
3 Apr 1999 Dundee Utd 0–3 Motherwell SPL1998-99 L
20 Mar 1999 Rangers 0–1 Dundee Utd SPL1998-99 W
16 Mar 1999 Dundee Utd 2–1 Ayr Utd Scottish Cup1998-99 W
13 Mar 1999 Ayr Utd 0–0 Dundee Utd Scottish Cup1998-99 D
6 Mar 1999 Dundee Utd 3–0 Clydebank Scottish Cup1998-99 W
3 Mar 1999 Clydebank 2–2 Dundee Utd Scottish Cup1998-99 D
27 Feb 1999 Celtic 2–1 Dundee Utd SPL1998-99 L
20 Feb 1999 Dundee Utd 3–0 Aberdeen SPL1998-99 W
9 Feb 1999 Dundee Utd 1–0 Queen's Park Scottish Cup1998-99 W
6 Feb 1999 St Johnstone 1–0 Dundee Utd SPL1998-99 L
2 Feb 1999 Queen's Park 0–0 Dundee Utd Scottish Cup1998-99 D
30 Jan 1999 Dundee Utd 1–1 Dunfermline SPL1998-99 D
2 Jan 1999 Dundee 1–3 Dundee Utd SPL1998-99 W
15 Nov 1998 Dunfermline 2–1 Dundee Utd SPL1998-99 L
7 Nov 1998 Dundee Utd 2–2 Motherwell SPL1998-99 D
31 Oct 1998 Rangers 2–1 Dundee Utd SPL1998-99 L
24 Oct 1998 Hearts 0–1 Dundee Utd SPL1998-99 W
17 Oct 1998 Dundee Utd 0–2 Kilmarnock SPL1998-99 L
4 Oct 1998 Dundee Utd 1–0 Aberdeen SPL1998-99 W
26 Sep 1998 St Johnstone 1–3 Dundee Utd SPL1998-99 W
23 Sep 1998 Dundee Utd 1–1 Dunfermline SPL1998-99 D
19 Sep 1998 Dundee 2–2 Dundee Utd SPL1998-99 D
12 Sep 1998 Dundee Utd 0–0 Rangers SPL1998-99 D

Goals scored (0)

No goals recorded for these filters.