Johnny Rep

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

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.

In Their Own Story

The lights of Belgrade burned bright on that night in 1973 as Rep struck the ball to beat Juventus. It was a moment that capped Ajax's rise, securing their third consecutive European Cup. Later, his pairing with Rob Rensenbrink became an offensive powerhouse for the Netherlands, driving them to World Cup finals in both 1974 and 1978. At the 1976 UEFA European Championship, Rep helped secure a third-place finish. His international record stands unmatched: he holds the all-time record for FIFA World Cup goals for the Netherlands with 7 goals across two tournaments. Even after his playing days, his legacy endured in pop culture; French rock band Mickey 3D wrote a song in his honour, and he was featured as 'Rak' in Pro Evolution Soccer 6.

Reader's Guide

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.

Did You Know?

• Rep scored the winning goal for Ajax against Juventus in the 1973 European Cup Final.
• He helped SC Bastia reach the finals of the 1978 UEFA Cup.
• He holds the all-time record for FIFA World Cup goals for the Netherlands with 7.
• He said he liked to distract himself by reading books by Harold Robbins and by playing cards.