John Sleeuwenhoek

John Sleeuwenhoek

Personal information
Full name	John Cornelius Sleeuwenhoek
Date of birth	(1944-02-26)26 February 1944
Place of birth	Wednesfield, England
Date of death	July 1989 (1989-08) (aged 45)
Place of death	Birmingham, England
Position(s)	Centre half
Youth career
1959–1961	Aston Villa
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1961–1967	Aston Villa	226	(1)
1967–1971	Birmingham City	30	(0)
1971	→ Torquay United (loan)	11	(0)
1971–1972	Oldham Athletic	2	(0)
International career
1962–1963	England U-23	2	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

John Cornelius Sleeuwenhoek (26 February 1944 – July 1989) was an English professional footballer who played as a centre half. He made 226 appearances in the Football League for Aston Villa and was capped twice for England at under-23 level.

Sleeuwenhoek was born in Wednesfield, Staffordshire, the son of a Dutch paratrooper. He started his football career as a junior with Aston Villa, turning professional in 1961, and played regularly for the club for six seasons. While at the club he won two caps for England U-23 and also played for a representative Football League XI. He then moved to Birmingham City, but recurrent knee problems dogged his later career. After spells at Torquay United and Oldham Athletic he retired from professional football at the early age of 28.

He was affectionately known as 'Tulip' due to his Dutch roots.

He died in Birmingham in July 1989, aged 45.