Ex-PSV and Netherlands keeper Van Beveren dies

Former Sparta Rotterdam and PSV Eindhoven No1 Jan van Beveren, "the best keeper the Netherlands ever had" according to René van der Kerkhof, has died aged 63.

Amsterdam-born Van Beveren started his professional career at Sparta in 1967, winning his first international cap in the same year, but will forever be associated with PSV. Between 1970 and 1980 he helped the Eindhoven outfit claim three titles, two Dutch Cups and their maiden European honour: the 1978 UEFA Cup.

It is testament to Van Beveren's revered reflexes and judgment that he was unbreached in the two-legged final, a 3-0 triumph over SC Bastia, and PSV described his death as the loss "of a club icon". Van der Kerkhof added: "He was my room-mate for away matches for seven years and a great friend of mine. He was the best keeper the Netherlands ever had."

Injury and a tendency to lay his cards on the table restricted Van Beveren to 32 caps but he enjoyed international success in the autumn of his career. He spent six years with Fort Lauderdale Strikers and Dallas Sidekicks before retiring in 1986, and remained in the United States as a coach and trainer. He died in Beaumont, Texas on Sunday.