John Nicholaas Rep (born 25 November 1951) is a Dutch former professional footballer who played as a right winger. He holds the all-time record for FIFA World Cup goals for the Netherlands with 7.

Playing career

Rep played as a right-footed striker in the Dutch World Cup teams of 1974 (West Germany) and 1978 (Argentina). He scored the winning goal for Ajax Amsterdam against Juventus in the 1973 European Cup Final in Belgrade and also helped SC Bastia reach the finals of the 1978 UEFA Cup. His pairing with Rob Rensenbrink was seen as an offensive powerhouse.

He said that his time at Valencia was not good and that the only thing they helped him do was "learn Spanish". He claimed that SC Bastia suited him best. After his time in Bastia, Rep joined AS Saint-Étienne and was part of a side that included Michel Platini.

Personal life

He said he liked to distract himself by reading books by Harold Robbins and by playing cards.

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cupEuropeOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Ajax1971–72Eredivisie910020112
1972–73Eredivisie24171071333521
1973–74Eredivisie33143220214017
1974–75Eredivisie32922403611
Total9841641515412450
Valencia1975–76La Liga2614002614
1976–77La Liga29800298
Total5522005522
Bastia1977–78Division 1301841944323
1978–79Division 13515514016
Total653392948339
Saint-Étienne1979–80Division 1311573854623
1980–81Division 13214101754920
1981–82Division 13487120439
1982–83Division 13472042409
Total13144265211217861
PEC Zwolle1983–84Eredivisie31522337
Feyenoord1984–85Eredivisie1722121214
1985–86Eredivisie2633120314
Total435524100528
Haarlem1986–87Eredivisie500050
Career total4281504815491854530187

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Netherlands197331
1974124
197500
197631
197742
197893
197930
198031
198150
Total4212

Scores and results list the Netherlands' goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Rep goal.

List of international goals scored by Johnny Rep
No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
12 May 1973Olympisch Stadion, Amsterdam, NetherlandsSpain1–03–2Friendly
215 June 1974Niedersachsenstadion, Hannover, GermanyUruguay1–02–01974 FIFA World Cup
32–0
423 June 1974Westfalenstadion, Dortmund, NetherlandsBulgaria3–04–11974 FIFA World Cup
526 June 1974Parkstadion, Gelsenkirchen, GermanyArgentina3–04–01974 FIFA World Cup
622 May 1976Heysel Stadium, Brussels, BelgiumBelgium1–12–1UEFA Euro 1976 qualification
726 March 1977Bosuil Stadium, Antwerp, BelgiumBelgium1–02–01978 FIFA World Cup qualification
831 August 1977Goffertstadion, Nijmegen, NetherlandsIceland3–04–11978 FIFA World Cup qualification
911 June 1978Estadio Malvinas Argentinas, Mendoza, ArgentinaScotland2–32–31978 FIFA World Cup
1014 June 1978Estadio Córdoba, Córdoba, ArgentinaAustria3–05–11978 FIFA World Cup
114–0
1214 June 1980Stadio San Paolo, Naples, ItalyWest Germany1–32–3UEFA Euro 1980

Honours

Ajax

Bastia

Saint-Étienne

Netherlands

Individual

Trivia

Rep is included in the "Classic Netherlands" team in the football video game Pro Evolution Soccer 6 under the name of "Rak".

Rep is the namesake of the Irish indie pop band Jonny Rep.

He also has a song named in his honour, written by French rock band Mickey 3D, who hail from Saint Etienne. In 2024, Wilfred Genee released the single Johnny Rep, an adaptation of the single Johnny Däpp by Austrian DJ Lorenz Büffel.

See also

External links