Steven Pienaar is a retired South African footballer who played as a midfielder. He is best known for his time at Premier League clubs Everton and Tottenham Hotspur, as well as his performances for the South African national team. Here is a detailed biography of his life and career:
Early Life and Career
Steven Jerome Pienaar was born on March 17, 1982, in Johannesburg, South Africa. He grew up in Westbury, a suburb of Johannesburg, where he developed a love for football at a young age. Pienaar began playing for local clubs and quickly attracted the attention of scouts from top South African teams.
Pienaar started his professional career at Ajax Cape Town in 1999. After just one season, he moved to Ajax Amsterdam in the Netherlands, where he won the Eredivisie title in the 2003-2004 season.
Move to Premier League and Success at Everton
In 2006, Pienaar made the move to the English Premier League, signing for Everton for a reported fee of £2 million. He quickly established himself as a key player for the team, using his technical ability and vision to create chances for his teammates.
Over the course of his eight seasons at Everton, Pienaar made 229 appearances in all competitions and scored 25 goals. He was a fan favorite at the club and won the Player of the Season award in both the 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 seasons.
Tottenham Hotspur and Return to Everton
In January 2011, Pienaar signed for Tottenham Hotspur in a deal worth around £3 million. However, he struggled for game time at the club and was loaned back to Everton for the 2012-2013 season.
Pienaar returned to Everton on a permanent deal in July 2013 and continued to be a key player for the club. However, injuries began to take a toll on his performances, and he announced his retirement from professional football in February 2018.
Steven Pienaar enjoyed a successful career at Everton, where he spent eight seasons and became a fan favorite. Here is a detailed timeline of his time at the club:
2007-2008 Season:
- August 2007: Steven Pienaar signs for Everton from Borussia Dortmund on a season-long loan deal.
- October 2007: Pienaar makes his debut for Everton in a league match against Birmingham City.
- April 2008: Pienaar scores his first goal for Everton in a league match against Derby County.
2008-2009 Season:
- August 2008: Pienaar signs a permanent deal with Everton for a fee of £2 million.
- October 2008: Pienaar scores a goal in a league match against Manchester United.
- May 2009: Pienaar finishes his first full season at Everton with two goals and five assists in 34 league appearances, helping the club finish 5th in the Premier League.
2009-2010 Season:
- October 2009: Pienaar scores the winning goal in a league match against Portsmouth.
- January 2010: Pienaar scores a brace in a league match against Hull City.
- May 2010: Pienaar finishes the season with four goals and nine assists in 35 league appearances, helping Everton finish 8th in the Premier League.
2010-2011 Season:
- October 2010: Pienaar scores a goal in a league match against Liverpool.
- January 2011: Pienaar signs for Tottenham Hotspur in a deal worth around £3 million.
- May 2011: Pienaar finishes the season with three goals and nine assists in 28 league appearances for Everton.
2011-2012 Season:
- January 2012: Pienaar is loaned back to Everton for the remainder of the season.
- April 2012: Pienaar scores a goal in a league match against Manchester United.
- May 2012: Pienaar finishes the season with four goals and five assists in 14 league appearances for Everton.
2012-2013 Season:
- July 2012: Pienaar signs for Everton on a permanent deal for a reported fee of £4.5 million.
- December 2012: Pienaar scores a goal in a league match against Tottenham Hotspur.
- May 2013: Pienaar finishes the season with six goals and four assists in 35 league appearances, helping Everton finish 6th in the Premier League.
2013-2014 Season:
- September 2013: Pienaar scores a goal in a league match against Chelsea.
- April 2014: Pienaar suffers a knee injury that keeps him out for the remainder of the season.
- May 2014: Pienaar finishes the season with two goals and four assists in 22 league appearances.
2014-2015 Season:
- September 2014: Pienaar makes his first appearance of the season in a league match against Liverpool.
- October 2014: Pienaar suffers a thigh injury that keeps him out for three months.
- May 2015: Pienaar finishes the season with one goal and three assists in 16 league appearances.
2015-2016 Season:
- August 2015: Pienaar signs a one-year contract extension with Everton.
- September 2015: Pienaar suffers a hamstring injury that keeps him out for two months.
- May 2016: Pienaar makes his final appearance for Everton in a league match against Norwich City.
Overall, Steven Pienaar made 229 appearances in all competitions for Everton, scoring 25 goals and providing 38 assists
South African National Team
Pienaar made his debut for the South African national team in 2002 and went on to earn 62 caps, scoring three goals. He represented his country at two FIFA World Cups, in 2002 and 2010, and was also part of the South African team that won the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations.
Here is a detailed timeline of Steven Pienaar’s career with the South African national football team:
2002:
- September 7, 2002: Steven Pienaar makes his debut for the South African national football team in a friendly match against Turkey.
2004:
- February 2, 2004: Pienaar scores his first international goal in a friendly match against Burkina Faso.
2006:
- June 11, 2006: Pienaar plays in his first World Cup match as South Africa take on Paraguay.
- September 2, 2006: Pienaar scores a goal in a friendly match against Chad.
2007:
- January 20, 2007: Pienaar is named the South African Footballer of the Year.
- June 2, 2007: Pienaar scores a goal in a friendly match against Malawi.
- June 10, 2007: Pienaar scores a goal in a friendly match against Ghana.
2008:
- February 6, 2008: Pienaar scores a goal in a friendly match against Nigeria.
- June 14, 2008: Pienaar scores a goal in a World Cup qualifier against Equatorial Guinea.
- June 18, 2008: Pienaar scores another goal in a World Cup qualifier against Equatorial Guinea.
- June 28, 2008: Pienaar scores a goal in a World Cup qualifier against Sierra Leone.
2009:
- June 6, 2009: Pienaar plays in his 50th international match for South Africa in a World Cup qualifier against Equatorial Guinea.
- June 14, 2009: Pienaar scores a goal in a friendly match against Poland.
- September 5, 2009: Pienaar scores a goal in a World Cup qualifier against Malawi.
2010:
- June 11, 2010: Pienaar captains South Africa in their opening match of the 2010 World Cup, a 1-1 draw against Mexico.
- June 22, 2010: Pienaar scores a goal in a World Cup match against France.
- June 27, 2010: Pienaar scores another goal in a World Cup match against Nigeria.
- August 11, 2010: Pienaar announces his retirement from international football, having earned 61 caps and scored 3 goals for South Africa.
Off the Field Activities After retiring from football, Pienaar has remained involved in the sport as a coach and ambassador. He has also been active in his community, using his platform to raise awareness about social issues in South Africa.
In addition, Pienaar has invested in several businesses, including a youth academy in Johannesburg and a property development company. He has also been involved in charitable work through his Steven Pienaar Foundation, which focuses on education and youth development in disadvantaged communities.
