Date: 1/03/2018

Steven Pienaar has now announced his retirement from football – bringing an end to his 19-year career in the game.

The midfielder was last seen in the Premier League at Sunderland, but is certainly known for his time at Everton , where his two spells at the club earned him cult hero status.

The South African international bagged 25 goals over his time at Goodison Park, partnering up brilliantly with Leighton Baines to become an integral member of the Blues squad under David Moyes.

So, on the day Pienaar announces his retirement from the game, we’ve collected five of what we believe to be his greatest moments as a Blues player

 

 

The goal against Arsenal

Well we all know it was going to be on here, so we might as well get it on there first, right?

Everton’s away record against the top six hasn’t been brilliant in recent years, not least at Arsenal – with the Blues still yet to win at the Emirates Stadium.

However, one of the closest they have come to that was in January 2010, and it was thanks to Steven Pienaar.

With the score at 1-1 and Arsenal pressing for what they thought would be a late winner, the Blues hit them on the counter when Tim Cahill released Pienaar.

Steven Pienaar shines at the Emirates Stadium on January 9, 2010

He still had half the pitch to run, with a defender right behind him and snow pelting down around him, but the South African international did brilliantly to deftly chip Almunia in the Gunners goal to put his side 2-1.

A late Rosicky goal would deny Everton all three points, but could wipe out a glorious goal from Pienaar.

The goal against Hull City

It’s 1-1 in the second half at a rainy Goodison Park in October 2013.

Hull City are holding Everton and the hosts are not putting in a brilliant display by all accounts.

They needed a hero from the bench – and that came in the form of Pienaar.

Barely 25 seconds after being introduced by then manager Roberto Martinez, the winger found himself perfectly placed on the edge of the box in front of the Park End for a Kevin Mirallas cut back.

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Other players might have been a bit rusty from only just coming off the bench (having missed the previous five matches through injury) but not Pienaar.

His brilliant flick out-smarted the goalkeeper and diverted the ball into the far corner expertly, handing Everton a 2-1 win.

Substitutions don’t get much better than that.

The 4-4 vs Manchester United

Need I say much more?

A truly epic encounter at Old Trafford saw Everton take the lead through Nikica Jelvaic, but then fall 3-1 and then 4-2 behind as Manchester United took a firm hold of the match.

The Blues striker bagged another goal to set up a nervy finish for Sir Alex Ferguson’s league-challenging side, before Pienaar had his say.

The winger danced his way into the United box, picked up the lay off from Marouane Fellaini and slotted the ball coolly into the back of the net beyond a helpless goalkeeper.

Soccer – Barclays Premier League – Manchester United v Everton – Old Trafford 2012 Everton’s Steven Pienaar celebrates scoring his team’s fourth goal and reveals a t-shirt that reads ‘God is Great’

The celebration that day is one that will live long in the memories of Blues supporters, and played a massive part in what was the most incredible title race the Premier League has ever seen.

You’re welcome, Man City.

The awards ceremony

One away from the pitch had to be included really didn’t it? And I’ve gone for THAT awards ceremony.

In case you’d forgotten – Everton’s end of season awards in 2015 must have been quite the night for Pienaar.

Because, as the ceremony was going on, the midfielder was on Twitter – and he as saying some pretty weird things.

A lot of them were fairly rude, so they won’t be posted on our family-friendly website, but there was one in reply to a fan asking, “If you could punch one footballer who would you punch?