Ten years ago today, new Everton manager Ronald Koeman made fellow Dutchman Maarten Stekelenburg his first signing. While the goalkeeper wasn't one of the Blues' all-time greats, he helped bridge the gap between the Tim Howard and Jordan Pickford eras while holding the unique distinction of saving two penalties in a single game against Manchester City.
Early Career and Path to Everton
The 6ft 6in custodian from Haarlem started his career at Ajax, where he first played under Koeman. He was one of just three starters not to be booked in the Netherlands team that lost 1-0 after extra time to Spain in the 2010 World Cup final in Johannesburg, when Everton's John Heitinga was sent off by referee Howard Webb. The following year he moved to Roma and first arrived in England in 2013 when he joined Fulham.
However, the Cottagers were relegated that season, and Stekelenburg spent the subsequent two years on loan at Monaco and then Southampton, where he again worked under Koeman. Joining Everton from Fulham, who were still in the Championship, for an undisclosed fee, the 33-year-old got the nod from his compatriot to start the 2016/17 campaign as first choice. He and Spaniard Joel Robles would end up sharing the goalkeeping duties, starting 19 Premier League matches apiece.
The Historic Double Penalty Save
Arguably Stekelenburg's finest hour for the Blues came at the Etihad Stadium on October 15, 2016, as he helped his side to a 1-1 draw against a Manchester City side playing their first season under Pep Guardiola. He twice denied the hosts from the spot. With Phil Jagielka giving away both penalties for challenges on David Silva and Sergio Aguero, awarded by Michael Oliver, Kevin De Bruyne was the first to be kept out, two minutes before the interval.
Then, in a frantic period during the second half, Romelu Lukaku fired Everton ahead on 64 minutes only for City to get their second penalty six minutes later. Substitute Aguero, who had been brought down, stepped up himself and also struck his shot to the Dutchman's left, but once more Stekelenburg kept the effort out. Nolito would ultimately equalise for the table-topping hosts just two minutes later.
Stekelenburg's Measured Response
After a lifetime between the sticks, Stekelenburg remained grounded after his heroics. He said: "The game of my life at City? Not at the moment. I'm sitting here and a lot of people are talking about it but if I make a mistake against Burnley (indeed the Blues would lose 2-1 at Turf Moor to a last-minute goal a week later) they will be saying I'm the worst keeper they've ever had. That's the job we have as a keeper. If I make a mistake this weekend and we lose the game the world is different. One game you are the hero and the next... y'know. That's the way it is. I know that. But it's great when it is positive and hopefully everyone is pleased with what I have shown so far."
Later Career and Legacy
Stekelenburg would remain at Everton until 2020, but after making 21 appearances in his first season, he'd turn out only five more times over the next three years and didn't feature at all in his final campaign. He then book-ended his career by returning to Ajax and even earned an international recall to finish on 63 caps for the Netherlands.
