Name: Nicolaas Alphonsus Petrus "Nico" de Bree
Nickname: "De Witte Schicht", "Tarzan"



Country: Netherlands
Club: RWD Molenbeek (1973-1977) | R.S.C. Anderlecht (1977-1980)
Position: *GK
Side: RF/BS
Age: 30-34 years (16/09/1944)

Height: 182 cm
Weight: 82 kg


Attack: 35
Defence: 86
Balance: 86
Stamina: 66
Top Speed: 69
Acceleration: 73
Response: 90
Agility: 74
Dribble Accuracy: 50
Dribble Speed: 53
Short Pass Accuracy: 64
Short Pass Speed: 65
Long Pass Accuracy: 65
Long Pass Speed: 68
Shot Accuracy: 44
Shot Power: 86
Shot Technique: 44
Free Kick Accuracy: 44
Curling: 50
Header: 56
Jump: 87
Technique: 52
Aggression: 73
Mentality: 78
Goalkeeper Skills: 86
Team Work: 74

Injury Tolerance: B
Condition: 7
Weak Foot Accuracy: 4
Weak Foot Frequency: 4
Consistency: 6
Growth Type: Late/Lasting

CARDS:
S26 - GK Long Throw

SPECIAL ABILITIES:

Attack/Defence Awareness Card: Balanced


INFO:
A true force of nature. His two greatest qualities? Emptiness on aerial balls and the power of his hand throw (his throws were incredibly powerful and precise - very often the ball only bounced a first time beyond the center line with the sole strength of his arms and forearms). De Bree scared all attackers. A big goalkeeper, when he came out at the small rectangle or at the penalty spot, he was a monument. He was the absolute master in his little rectangle where no one dared to come and tackle him, so much did he create a vacuum on the aerial balls. When Nico came out of his goal, the opponent was so paralyzed that he avoided the duel and most often shot at him or next to him. De Bree was a well-built goalkeeper who didn't shy away from going into a duel with an opponent. He radiated authority and was able to organize his defense well.

He began his career with USV Elinkwijk, then moving to NEC Nijmegen, where he quickly became a starter, allowing the club to move up to the Eredivisie. In 1972, he was transferred by Racing White, a Brussels club, which became RWDM the year after after a merger with Daring de Molenbeek. In 1975, he won the title of Belgian champion, the first of the (official) professional era in Belgium, and the only trophy in the history of the club.

His good performances at RWDM earned him a transfer to the big club of the capital, Anderlecht, in 1977. Nico de Bree replaces his compatriot Jan Ruiter, who left... for RWDM. In his first season with Mauves, he won the Cup Winners' Cup. The club finished twice as Belgian runners-up in 1978 and 1979, and he was the starting goalkeeper each time. Faced by competition from young Jacky Munaron during the 1979–80 season, he left and joined Winterslag, before playing for Beerschot. In 1982 he returned to the Netherlands and signed for DS'79 where he won the title in the second division in 1983. Nico de Bree ended his career at the end of the next season.

It never came to an international match for the Orange, but De Bree was part of the wider Orange squad for the 1978 World Cup.