Van Hooijdonk delighted with NAC return

The varied and colourful career of Pierre van Hooijdonk came a full circle today when he put pen to paper on a one-year contract with his first professional outfit NAC Breda.

Van Hooijdonk spent over three years at NAC after starting out at the club in 1991 and has since represented teams in Scotland, England, Portugal and Turkey as well as making 46 appearances for Holland.

The 35-year-old’s career has not always been the smoothest of rides after he left both Celtic and Nottingham Forest in acrimonious circumstances.

The striker struck 81 goals in 115 games in his first spell at NAC and he is confident he has the ability to carry on where he left off when he pulls on the team’s colours again next season.

“I’m very happy to come back to NAC Breda,” said Van Hooijdonk.

“I left the club 10 years ago and since that moment a lot has happened to me. My career brought me to Celtic, Nottingham Forest, Vitesse, Benfica, Feyenoord and Turkish side Fenerbahce.

“I have developed myself very well and I hope to give the people at NAC Breda what they expect from me.”

He will link up with the Dutch outfit in July when his current contract at Fenerbahce expires and he has hopes of playing for Holland in the 2006 World Cup.

He added: “I would like to go to the World Cup in Germany next year.”