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10 July 2026

Thomas Buitink's fight: always with a mask.

Thomas Buitink announces his retirement from professionalism at the age of 26, after a period of little consideration and lack of pleasure in playing football.

Thomas Buitink's fight: always with a mask.
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<h2>The fight of Thomas Buitink: always with a mask.</h2> Thomas Buitink recently surprised everyone by announcing his retirement from professional football. Last season his use in PEC Zwolle was minimal, but there were still good opportunities for him in the Keuken Kampioen Divisie. However, he decided to stop at just 26 years old. In Vitesse, when he was still a boy, he launched himself into the Eredivisie with a rocket career, scoring a hat-trick in his first match as a starter. He seemed to have no fear, someone who took to the field without worries. But behind that very young prolific striker there was a person who experienced pressure as a burden, who had known very dark days. "If you're not happy, you have to go and find happiness." On a Tuesday, Buitink enters the restaurant of the Van Ampt hotel in Nijkerk, the city where he was born and where he still lives. “Obviously I thought about this choice for a long time,” he says, settling into a chair. "In recent years I have almost never enjoyed playing and it has become a burden for me to be in this environment." Without a doubt: "I'm tired of football. I'm tired of this environment."
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His football career has been full of ups and downs, as he himself admitted. After making his debut in Vitesse, he reached his peak when he went to play for Fortuna Sittard, where he was always a starter and scored many goals. From there he expected another career leap, but he was signed by PEC Zwolle, a team in which he found little space. "When I signed for PEC Zwolle I thought I would be more useful to the team, but unfortunately that wasn't the case. This led me to review my priorities a bit and ask myself if I was really suited to this world."

"There were times when I thought about quitting even before, but I always believed that there was a final reward, that in the end all this would lead me to something beautiful, something that would make me happy. But unfortunately that reward never came." Buitink now wants to focus on his life outside of football. He already has projects in mind, he wants to study and dedicate himself to other passions, such as travel. "I don't want to have any more constraints, I want to be free to do what I want, to be able to go where I want."

<h2>Frequently Asked Questions</h2> <h3>Why did Thomas Buitink decide to retire from professional football?</h3> <p>Thomas Buitink decided to retire at just 26 years old because in recent years he almost never enjoyed playing and found the football environment a burden.</p> <h3>What was Thomas Buitink's career before retirement?</h3> <p>Thomas Buitink made his debut at Vitesse, had a career peak at Fortuna Sittard and was subsequently signed by PEC Zwolle, where he found little space.</p> <h3>What was Thomas Buitink's first match as a starter?</h3> <p>Thomas Buitink scored a hat-trick in his first match as a starter for Vitesse.</p> <h3>What were Thomas Buitink's feelings about his time at PEC Zwolle?</h3> <p>Buitink said that he thought he would be more useful to the team when he signed for PEC Zwolle, but unfortunately this was not the case.</p> <h3>Where does Thomas Buitink currently live?</h3> <p>Thomas Buitink lives in Nijkerk, the city where he was born.</p> <p>Read more on our latest coverage and stay tuned for updates on what happens next.</p> <h2>Related Articles</h2> <ul> <li><a href="https://azzurrigoal.com/it/news/barcelona-has-reached-an-agreement-for-the-purchase-of-cancelo">Barcelona has reached an agreement for the purchase of Cancelo</a></li> </ul>

Domande frequenti

Perché Thomas Buitink ha deciso di ritirarsi dal calcio professionistico?
Thomas Buitink ha deciso di ritirarsi a soli 26 anni perché negli ultimi anni non ha quasi mai provato piacere nel giocare e ha trovato l'ambiente calcistico un peso.
Qual è stata la carriera di Thomas Buitink prima del ritiro?
Thomas Buitink ha debuttato nel Vitesse, ha avuto un picco di carriera al Fortuna Sittard e successivamente è stato ingaggiato dal PEC Zwolle, dove ha trovato poco spazio.
Qual è stata la prima partita da titolare di Thomas Buitink?
Thomas Buitink ha segnato una tripletta alla sua prima partita da titolare con il Vitesse.
Quali sono stati i sentimenti di Thomas Buitink riguardo al suo tempo al PEC Zwolle?
Buitink ha affermato di aver pensato di essere più utile alla squadra quando ha firmato per il PEC Zwolle, ma purtroppo non è stato così.
Dove vive attualmente Thomas Buitink?
Thomas Buitink vive a Nijkerk, la città in cui è nato.
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