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 competitionClubSeasonLeagueNational cupEuropeOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAjax1971–72Eredivisie910020—1121972–73Eredivisie241710713335211973–74Eredivisie331432202140171974–75Eredivisie3292240—3611Total9841641515412450Valencia1975–76La Liga261400——26141976–77La Liga29800——298Total552200——5522Bastia1977–78Division 130184194—43231978–79Division 1351551——4016Total65339294—8339Saint-Étienne1979–80Division 131157385—46231980–81Division 1321410175—49201981–82Division 13487120—4391982–83Division 13472042—409Total131442652112—17861PEC Zwolle1983–84Eredivisie31522——337Feyenoord1984–85Eredivisie1722121—2141985–86Eredivisie2633120—314Total435524100528Haarlem1986–87Eredivisie5000——50Career total4281504815491854530187
International + Appearances and goals by national team and yearNational teamYearAppsGoalsNetherlands1973311974124197500197631197742197893197930198031198150Total4212
Scores and results list the Netherlands' goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Rep goal.
+ List of international goals scored by Johnny RepNo.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition1 2 May 1973 Olympisch Stadion, Amsterdam, Netherlands 1–0 3–2 Friendly2 15 June 1974 Niedersachsenstadion, Hannover, Germany 1–0 2–0 1974 FIFA World Cup3 2–0 4 23 June 1974 Westfalenstadion, Dortmund, Netherlands 3–0 4–1 1974 FIFA World Cup5 26 June 1974 Parkstadion, Gelsenkirchen, Germany 3–0 4–0 1974 FIFA World Cup6 22 May 1976 Heysel Stadium, Brussels, Belgium 1–1 2–1 UEFA Euro 1976 qualification7 26 March 1977 Bosuil Stadium, Antwerp, Belgium 1–0 2–0 1978 FIFA World Cup qualification8 31 August 1977 Goffertstadion, Nijmegen, Netherlands 3–0 4–1 1978 FIFA World Cup qualification9 11 June 1978 Estadio Malvinas Argentinas, Mendoza, Argentina 2–3 2–3 1978 FIFA World Cup10 14 June 1978 Estadio Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina 3–0 5–1 1978 FIFA World Cup11 4–0 12 14 June 1980 Stadio San Paolo, Naples, Italy 1–3 2–3 UEFA Euro 1980
Honours Ajax Eredivisie: 1971–72, 1972–73 European Cup: 1971–72, 1972–73 European Super Cup: 1972, 1973 Intercontinental Cup: 1972
Bastia UEFA Cup runner-up: 1977–78
Saint-Étienne French Division 1: 1980–81
Netherlands FIFA World Cup runner-up: 1974, 1978 UEFA European Championship third place: 1976 Tournoi de Paris: 1978
Individual French Division 1 Foreign Player of the Year: 1977–78
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 List of FIFA World Cup top goalscorers
References
External links Johnny Rep at Voetbal International