Kees Smit

Kees Henricus Petrus Smit is a Dutch footballer who plays for club AZ Alkmaar as a midfielder.

Club career

From Heiloo, Smit joined the academy at AZ Alkmaar at nine years-old in 2015. He then became the youngest member of their under-12 squad. After progressing through the ranks at AZ, he signed a three-and-a-half-year professional contract in January 2021.
In December 2022, Smit was included with the first team squad on their mid-season break travelling training party to Valencia, Spain. In January 2023, a goal Smit scored in a five-a-side indoor game went viral due to its unusual nature, as he beat the outrushing goalkeeper with shot rebounded from the side wall. Later that month, Smit made his professional debut for Jong AZ in the Eerste Divisie in a home match against Helmond Sport, on 23 January 2023.
With AZ under-19s playing in the UEFA Youth League he was part of the team that beat Barcelona and Real Madrid on consecutive rounds to reach the semi-finals in March 2023. Smit scored a long range goal in the UEFA Youth League last-sixteen tie against Barcelona that brought praise. He also played in the UEFA Youth League final against Hajduk Split as AZ ran out 5–0 winners.
He made his UEFA Europa League debut for AZ Alkmaar on 7 November 2024 in a 3–1 home win against Fenerbahçe, scoring the second goal and being credited with an assist for the third. He played in the final of the KNVB Cup as AZ lost to Go Ahead Eagles on penalties on 21 April 2025. The game had ended 1–1 in normal time after Go Ahead Eagles scored a 98th minute equaliser.

In November 2021, Smit played for the Netherlands national under-16 football team against the Belgian under-16s. Smit has since been selected for the Dutch U17s. Smit played for the Dutch U19s during the 2025 UEFA European Under-19 Championship which they won for the first time, Smit became player of the tournament

Netherlands U19

Individual