“When You Have That Love From The Supporters, You Feel At Home”

Steven Pienaar last week called time on his illustrious playing career which included spells at Ajax, Borussia Dortmund and Tottenham. But he is in no doubt that Everton was the most special time in his career…

- Paul McNamara

Steven Pienaar is about to complete the circle. He is heading back to Amsterdam, where it all started.

Pienaar was still four months shy of his 19th birthday when he moved to the Dutch capital, leaving his native South Africa to join mighty four-times European champions Ajax.

It was back in the 35-year-old’s homeland at the tail end of last year that he started to become troubled by a thought, persistently gnawing away at the back of his mind, until he could ignore it no more.

“I was still going to training every day but I was thinking, ‘I cannot take it anymore’,” says Pienaar.

The process of acceptance was not easy. But it was relatively swift. Pienaar had returned to South Africa to see out his career with Bidvest Wits in Johannesburg, the home city he left in his teenage years to move 869 miles south to Cape Town – specifically Ajax Cape Town, a satellite of the behemoth club in the Netherlands where he would twice win the league title.

His latest visit to Amsterdam offers a chance for reflection on a magnificent 17-year career, filled with exuberance, joy and achievement.

“I am flying there to go on holiday with the kids [he has two daughters], I have not seen them for a while and can spend some time with them,” Pienaar tells Everton’s matchday programme.

“I spoke with my family about what we want to do next and came to my peace with the decision. I knew I would have to close this chapter at some stage and decided in November it was time to call it a day. It was a difficult one but now I feel more relaxed.

“My kids have been all over the place for the past couple of years, travelling up and down the UK with me.”

Pienaar’s enviable CV lists illustrious German outfit Borussia Dortmund and London giants Tottenham Hotspur as former employers.