View source for Steven Pienaar

{{Short description|South African footballer (born 1982)}}
{{Use British English|date=December 2012}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2019}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Steven Pienaar
| image = Steven Pienaar 2015.jpg
| caption = Pienaar warming-up for [[Everton F.C.|Everton]] in 2015
| full_name = Steven Jerome Pienaar<ref name="FIFA World Cup South Africa 2010: List of Players">{{Cite news | title = FIFA World Cup South Africa 2010: List of Players | url = https://www.fifa.com/mm/document/tournament/competition/01/22/85/78/fwc_2010_squadlists.pdf | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100616010702/http://www.fifa.com/mm/document/tournament/competition/01/22/85/78/fwc_2010_squadlists.pdf | url-status = dead | archive-date = 16 June 2010 | publisher = FIFA | page = 28 | date = 4 June 2010 | access-date = 16 April 2014}}</ref>
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1982|3|17|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Johannesburg]], South Africa
| height = 1.70 m<ref name=efcprofile>{{cite web|url=http://www.evertonfc.com/player-profile/steven-pienaar|title=Steven Pienaar|publisher=Everton F.C.|access-date=14 January 2011}}</ref>
| position = [[Midfielder#Winger|Winger]] / [[Midfielder#Attacking midfielder|Attacking midfielder]]
| currentclub = [[Sharjah FC]] (youth)
| youthyears1 = 
| youthclubs1 = West Ham Westbury
| youthyears2 = 
| youthclubs2 = Westbury Arsenal
| youthyears3 = 
| youthclubs3 = School of Excellence
| youthyears4 = 
| youthclubs4 = [[Ajax Cape Town F.C.|Ajax Cape Town]]
| years1 = 1999–2001
| clubs1 = [[Ajax Cape Town FC|Ajax Cape Town]]
| caps1 = 24
| goals1 = 6
| years2 = 2001–2006
| clubs2 = [[AFC Ajax|Ajax]]
| caps2 = 94
| goals2 = 15
| years3 = 2006–2008
| clubs3 = [[Borussia Dortmund]]
| caps3 = 25
| goals3 = 0
| years4 = 2007–2008
| clubs4 = → [[Everton F.C.|Everton]] (loan)
| caps4 = 28
| goals4 = 2
| years5 = 2008–2011
| clubs5 = [[Everton F.C.|Everton]]
| caps5 = 76
| goals5 = 7
| years6 = 2011–2012
| clubs6 = [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]]
| caps6 = 10
| goals6 = 0
| years7 = 2012
| clubs7 = → [[Everton F.C.|Everton]] (loan)
| caps7 = 14
| goals7 = 4
| years8 = 2012–2016
| clubs8 = [[Everton F.C.|Everton]]
| caps8 = 71
| goals8 = 7
| years9 = 2016–2017
| clubs9 = [[Sunderland A.F.C.|Sunderland]]
| caps9 = 15
| goals9 = 0
| years10 = 2017–2018
| clubs10 = [[Bidvest Wits F.C.|Bidvest Wits]]
| caps10 = 4
| goals10 = 0|
| caps11 = 
| goals11 = 
| totalcaps = 361
| totalgoals = 41
| nationalyears1 = 1999–2000
| nationalteam1 = South Africa U17<ref name="=Soccer juniors leave Botswana reeling">{{cite web|title=Soccer juniors leave Botswana reeling|url=http://www.iol.co.za/sport/soccer-juniors-leave-botswana-reeling-1.331053|publisher=iol.co.za|access-date=24 January 2011|date=27 November 1999}}</ref>
| nationalcaps1 = 1
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| nationalyears2 = 2002–2012
| nationalteam2 = [[South Africa national football team|South Africa]]
| nationalcaps2 = 61
| nationalgoals2 = 3
| manageryears1 = 2019–2020
| managerclubs1 = [[SV Robinhood (Amsterdam)|SV Robinhood]] (assistant)
| manageryears2 = 2020–2024
| managerclubs2 = [[AFC Ajax|Ajax]] (youth)
| manageryears3 = 2024–
| managerclubs3 = [[Sharjah FC|Sharjah]] (youth)
}}

'''Steven Jerome Pienaar''' ({{IPA|af|ˈstivən ˈpinɑːr|af}}; born 17 March 1982) is a South African former professional [[Association football|footballer]] and current coach of the U14 team of [[Sharjah FC]] in the [[United Arab Emirates]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://english.ajax.nl/articles/special-steven-pienaar-ajax-and-the-eternal-smile/ |title=Special {{!}} 'Steven Pienaar - Ajax and the eternal smile' |access-date=3 March 2024 | date = 14 February 2024 |website=ajax.nl}}</ref>

He hails from [[Westbury, Johannesburg|Westbury]], a suburb in Johannesburg's Westrand. He was a [[Captain (association football)|captain]] of the [[South Africa national football team|South African national team]]. He primarily played as a [[Midfielder#Winger|winger]], but also played as an [[Midfielder#Attacking midfielder|attacking midfielder]]. Pienaar played at club level in South Africa, the Netherlands, Germany, and England for [[Ajax Cape Town FC|Ajax Cape Town]], [[AFC Ajax|Ajax]], [[Borussia Dortmund]], [[Everton F.C.|Everton]], [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]], [[Sunderland A.F.C.|Sunderland]] and [[Bidvest Wits F.C.|Bidvest Wits]]. Pienaar is currently serving as an international ambassador at former club [[Everton F.C.|Everton]].

==Club career==

===Ajax Cape Town===
Pienaar was born in [[Johannesburg]]. He started his professional career at [[Ajax Cape Town FC|Ajax Cape Town]], some {{convert|1400|km|mi}} away from his hometown. He was brought to the attention of Ajax CT whilst playing for the School of Excellence and was asked to join their youth academy.

Pienaar said, "I was very fortunate to go to the School of Excellence 2000, to be able to polish the technique and the talent that God gave me and to learn how to use it in the way that God had wanted me to."<ref name="newafrican">{{cite news|title=Bearing the burden of talent|last=Cullum|first=Barney|date=March 2010|publisher=New African}}</ref> "I was fortunate to work with the Dutch coach [[Leo van Veen]], who helped me at Ajax Cape Town... He appreciated the way I played but at the same time he changed my mentality. He taught me how to prepare for games, not just playing to please the crowd but also how to play for the team."<ref name="newafrican"/>

At Ajax Cape Town, he won the [[Telkom Knockout|Rothman's Cup]] after beating [[Orlando Pirates]] 4–1 in the final on 13 December 2000, his final game for the club.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesz/zaf01.html |title=League Cup 2000 |access-date=9 December 2012 | date = 8 September 2004 | first = Ian |website=[[RSSSF]] | last = King}}</ref>

[[File:Steven Pienaar.jpg|thumb|left|Pienaar with Ajax]]

===Ajax===
At the age of 18, Pienaar was brought over to the Netherlands in January 2001 but did not make his [[Eredivisie]] debut until 24 February 2002, a 1–0 victory over [[NAC Breda]]. He became a pivotal member of the [[AFC Ajax|Ajax]] team that won the Dutch League in 2002 and 2004, shining as one of Ajax's best players alongside [[Zlatan Ibrahimović]], [[Maxwell (footballer, born 1981)|Maxwell]], [[Cristian Chivu]], [[Mido (footballer)|Mido]], [[Nigel de Jong]], [[Rafael van der Vaart]], and [[Wesley Sneijder]], as well as future [[Everton F.C.|Everton]] teammates [[John Heitinga]] and [[Andy van der Meyde]].

[[File:Pienaar.jpg|thumb|upright|Pienaar with [[Borussia Dortmund]]]]

===Borussia Dortmund===
In January 2006, German club [[Borussia Dortmund]] of the [[Bundesliga]] signed Pienaar on a three-year contract from Ajax. Seen as a replacement for the [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]]-bound [[Tomáš Rosický]], Pienaar's first year with Dortmund saw him receive the number 10 shirt vacated by the [[Czech Republic national football team|Czech]] playmaker. Pienaar, however, struggled at Dortmund and never felt truly accepted by the other players at the club.<ref>{{cite news| url = https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/columnists/alansmith/2329187/Steven-Pienaar-Confidence-is-great-at-Everton.html | work=The Daily Telegraph | location=London | title=Steven Pienaar: Confidence is great at Everton | first=Alan | last=Smith | date=22 December 2007 | access-date = 21 December 2012}}</ref>

===Everton===
Pienaar joined [[Everton F.C.|Everton]] on loan for the [[2007–08 Everton F.C. season|2007–08]] and later signed a three-year contract from Dortmund for a pre-agreed fee of £2&nbsp;million after payment of an initial loan fee of £350,000 in April 2008.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://edition.cnn.com/2008/SPORT/football/04/22/football.pienaar/| title=Pienaar seals permanent move to Everton| date=22 April 2008| access-date=22 April 2008|publisher=CNN}}</ref> Pienaar made his debut for Everton in a 2–1 home victory over [[Wigan Athletic F.C.|Wigan Athletic]] on 11 August 2007, replacing [[Leon Osman]] in the 73rd minute as a substitute.<ref>{{cite news |title=Everton 2–1 Wigan |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/6931062.stm |work=BBC Sport |publisher=British Broadcasting Company |date=17 January 2011 |access-date=17 January 2011 |first=Phil |last=McNulty}}</ref> Pienaar scored his first Everton goal in a 2–0 home victory over [[Middlesbrough F.C.|Middlesbrough]] on 30 September.<ref>{{cite news |title=Everton 2–0 Middlesbrough |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/7008204.stm |work=BBC Sport |publisher=British Broadcasting Company |date=30 September 2007 |access-date=29 March 2010 |first=Owen |last=Phillips}}</ref> He produced some stand out performances and this led to many clubs showing interest in him.

Despite missing 11 games through injury, Pienaar was named Everton's Player of the Season for [[2009–10 Everton F.C. season|2009–10]].<ref name=efcprofile/>

===Tottenham Hotspur===
In January 2011, both [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]] and [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]] had bids accepted to buy Pienaar from Everton before the South African joined Spurs for a fee of £3&nbsp;million on a four-year contract.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/transfers/steven-pienaar-arrives-at-tottenham-to-complete-transfer-2187593.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220525/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/transfers/steven-pienaar-arrives-at-tottenham-to-complete-transfer-2187593.html |archive-date=25 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Steven Pienaar arrives at Tottenham to complete transfer |newspaper=[[The Independent]] |date=18 January 2011 }}</ref> He made his Tottenham debut in a 1–1 draw away to [[Newcastle United F.C.|Newcastle United]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/9363825.stm|title=Newcastle 1 – 1 Tottenham|first=Sam |last=Lyon|work=BBC Sport|date=22 January 2011|access-date=24 January 2011}}</ref> In August 2011, Pienaar suffered a groin injury, which ruled him out for six weeks.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2011/aug/09/tottenham-steven-pienaar-groin-injury |title=Tottenham's Steven Pienaar out for six weeks with groin injury |newspaper=The Guardian |date=9 August 2011 | access-date = 22 December 2012}}</ref> Pienaar scored his first goal for Spurs in a 4–0 victory over Irish side [[Shamrock Rovers F.C.|Shamrock Rovers]] in the [[2011–12 UEFA Europa League|Europa League]] on 15 December.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/0254-0d7d44987e35-1de6b5470c22-1000--resounding-spurs-win-at-rovers-in-vain/ |title=Resounding Spurs win at Rovers in vain |publisher=UEFA |date=15 December 2011 | access-date = 22 December 2012}}</ref>

Pienaar's spell at Tottenham was characterised by persistent injuries and not much impact in games, which resulted him rarely featuring in the team.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2896/premier-league/2012/12/08/3587759/moyes-admits-bringing-pienaar-back-to-everton-was-a-gamble?source=breakingnews |title=Moyes: Bringing Pienaar back to Everton was a gamble |publisher=Goal.com |date=8 December 2012 | access-date = 22 December 2012 | first = Husmukh | last = Kerai}}</ref>

===Return to Everton===
Late on transfer deadline day in January 2012, Pienaar completed a return to Everton on a six-month loan deal.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11671/7469561/Pienaar-makes-Toffees-return | title=Pienaar makes Toffees return |work=[[Sky Sports]] | date=1 February 2012 | access-date=1 February 2012}}</ref> He made his second debut for the club in a 1–1 draw away to [[Wigan Athletic F.C.|Wigan Athletic]],<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/16778754 | title=Wigan 1–1 Everton |work=BBC Sport | date=4 February 2012 | access-date=4 February 2012}}</ref> and scored his first goal of his loan spell with opener in a 2–0 win over [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]] a week later.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/16884797 | title=Everton 2–0 Chelsea |work=BBC Sport | date=11 February 2012 | access-date=11 February 2012}}</ref> Pienaar finished the season by scoring against [[Newcastle United F.C|Newcastle United]], stating in a post-match interview his wish to rejoin Everton. Despite only playing in 14 games, and being [[cup-tied]] from the [[2011–12 FA Cup|FA Cup]], Pienaar finished his spell with six assists, the most of anyone at Everton for the [[2011–12 Everton F.C. season|season]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.eplindex.com/14856/everton-steven-pienaar-vital-dispensable-opta-stats.html | title=Everton – Steven Pienaar: Vital or Dispensable | publisher=English Premier League Index | access-date = 31 May 2012 | date = 24 May 2012 | first = Luke | last = O'Farrell}}</ref> He also scored four goals, which was at the time his joint-best tally in the league for Everton.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.eplindex.com/14562/everton-201112-good-bad-opta-stats-analysis.html/2 | title=Everton 2011/12 – The Good and the Bad | publisher=English Premier League Index | access-date = 31 May 2012 | date = 16 May 2012 | first = Matt | last = Cheetham}}</ref>

A permanent transfer was agreed in July 2012, with Everton paying Tottenham a fee of £4.5&nbsp;million.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2012/jul/31/steven-pienaar-rejoins-everton|title=Steven Pienaar rejoins Everton from Tottenham in £4.5m deal|date=31 July 2012|access-date=31 July 2012|work=The Guardian}}</ref> On 25 August 2012, he scored his first goal since signing permanently, opening the scoring in a 1–3 away win against [[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]].<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19304226 | title=Aston Villa 1–3 Everton |work=BBC Sport | access-date = 25 August 2012 | date = 25 August 2012}}</ref> On 9 December, Pienaar scored a powerful header against former club Tottenham, Everton's 1,000th goal in the Premier League, as they came from a goal down to win 2–1 at Goodison.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/blog/_/name/everton/id/303?cc=5901 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130124065351/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/blog/_/name/everton/id/303?cc=5901 |url-status=dead |archive-date=24 January 2013 |title=Gibson dazzles in comeback |publisher=ESPN FC |date=9 December 2012 | first = Luke | last = O'Farrell | access-date = 22 December 2012}}</ref> Pienaar was sent off for two bookable offences twice during the season, against [[Queens Park Rangers F.C.|Queens Park Rangers]] and [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]]. Everton drew 1–1 against QPR and beat City 2–0.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19939683 | title=QPR 1–1 Everton | work=[[BBC Sport]] | access-date=30 May 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21724274 | title=Everton 2–0 Man City | work=[[BBC Sport]] | access-date=30 May 2013}}</ref> Pienaar finished the season with seven goals, the joint-most he has ever scored in a season with Everton. In October 2013, Pienaar returned from a hamstring injury suffered two months earlier as he came on as a substitute against [[Hull City A.F.C.|Hull City]] and scored the winning goal just ten seconds later.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/everton-injury-steven-pienaar-out-2279283 | title=Everton suffer injury blow as club confirms Steven Pienaar is out for a month | newspaper=[[Daily Mirror]] | access-date=19 October 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/24504051 | title=Everton 2–1 Hull City | work=[[BBC Sport]] | access-date=19 October 2013}}</ref> Despite Everton finishing the [[2013–14 Everton F.C. season|2013–14 season]] fifth with a club record of 72 Premier League points, Pienaar struggled with injuries for large parts of it and only scored one goal and made two assists in the matches he did feature in.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/everton-fc-dont-write-steven-7167557 | title=Royal Blue: Season to forget but don't write off Pienaar | newspaper=[[Liverpool Echo]] | access-date=4 June 2014}}</ref>

Pienaar made relatively few appearances over the next two seasons and, at the end of 2015–16, he was released by Everton when his contract expired.<ref>{{cite web|title=Trio Included On Released List|url=http://www.evertonfc.com/news/2016/06/10/trio-included-on-released-list|website=evertonfc.com|publisher=Everton F.C.|access-date=16 June 2016|date=10 June 2016}}</ref>

===Late career===
On 19 August 2016, Pienaar signed a one-year contract with [[Sunderland A.F.C.|Sunderland]], reuniting with former manager [[David Moyes]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Pienaar joins Black Cats|url=https://www.safc.com/news/team-news/2016/august/pienaar-signs|website=safc.com|publisher=Sunderland A.F.C.|access-date=19 August 2016|date=19 August 2016}}</ref> He made 17 appearances and his contract was not renewed at the end of the season. He returned to South Africa, signing a one-year deal with [[Bidvest Wits F.C.|Bidvest Wits]] in July 2017,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.espn.co.uk/football/story/3153508/steven-pienaar-signs-with-bidvest-wits|title=Steven Pienaar signs with Bidvest Wits|date=5 July 2017|publisher=ESPN|access-date=5 July 2017}}</ref> but was released six months later.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.goal.com/en-za/news/bidvest-wits-part-ways-with-former-everton-midfielder-steven/1alejz8afpk0f1x4t99m1otxv1|title=Bidvest Wits part ways with former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Steven Pienaar {{!}} Goal.com|access-date=1 March 2018|language=en}}</ref> He retired from professional football in March 2018.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/43242011|title=Steven Pienaar retires from football|work=BBC Sport}}</ref>

==International career==
A former under-17 international,<ref name="=Soccer juniors leave Botswana reeling" /> Pienaar made his international debut for [[South Africa national football team|South Africa]] in a 2–0 win against [[Turkey national football team|Turkey]] in 2002. He earned 61 caps and scored three goals over the course of his international career. Pienaar participated at the [[2002 FIFA World Cup|2002]] and [[2010 FIFA World Cup|2010 World Cup]]s, the latter on home soil.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2010/8654863.stm|title=Benni McCarthy dropped by South Africa|date=1 June 2010|work=BBC Sport|publisher=BBC|access-date=16 June 2010}}</ref>

On 2 October 2012, Pienaar announced his retirement from international duties.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/3841/world-cup-2014/2012/10/02/3419398/everton-midfielder-pienaar-retires-from-south-africa-duty?source=breakingnews|title=Everton midfielder Pienaar retires from South Africa duty|date=2 October 2012|access-date=2 October 2012|publisher=Goal.com | first = Shane | last = Farrington}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.sportlive.co.za/soccer/sa/2012/10/02/pienaar-quits-bafana|title=Pienaar retires from Bafana|date=2 October 2012|access-date=2 October 2012|publisher=Sport Live}}</ref>

==Coaching career==
After retiring, Pienaar began coaching at Dutch amateur club [[SV Robinhood (Amsterdam)|SV Robinhood]] under head coach Nana Tutu, who formerly worked for [[AFC Ajax]] to help African players in the club.<ref>[https://www.vice.com/nl/article/amateurvoetbal-steven-pienaar/ Een dag in het amateurvoetbal met Steven Pienaar], vice.com, 22 January 2019</ref> In September 2019, he completed his [[UEFA A Licence]]<ref>[https://www.kickoff.com/news/articles/world-news/categories/news/news/steven-pienaar-ex-everton-ajax-and-tottenham-star-completes-uefa-a-license/663477 Pienaar following Benni's footsteps], kickoff.com, 17 September 2019</ref> and in December 2019, Pienaar returned to [[AFC Ajax]] as a Trainee Coach.<ref>[https://www.ajax.nl/archief/pienaar-terug-bij-ajax-het-is-gewoon-een-droom Pienaar terug bij Ajax: 'Het is gewoon een droom'], ajax.nl, 24 December 2019</ref>

==Personal life==
Pienaar is from the mixed-race South African community known as [[Coloureds]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kuper |first1=Simon |title=Apartheid casts its long dark shadow on the game |url=https://www.ft.com/content/d0dc422e-dedc-11de-adff-00144feab49a |access-date=15 April 2020 |work=Financial Times |date=3 December 2009 |quote=Steven Pienaar, South Africa’s leading midfielder, is from a “Coloured” township nearer Pretoria.}}</ref> He is commonly referred to by his nickname "Schillo"<ref>{{cite web | url = http://mediachannel.mtnfootball.com/live/content.php?Item_ID=16218 | title = Pienaar: "South Africa Must Create A Family Unit" | publisher = mtnfootball.com | date = 11 June 2008 | access-date = 22 December 2012 | first = Ernest | last = Landheer | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131227013920/http://mediachannel.mtnfootball.com/live/content.php?Item_ID=16218 | archive-date = 27 December 2013 | df = dmy-all }}</ref> in South Africa, a childhood nickname given to him by friends after the exploits of [[Salvatore Schillaci|Totò Schillaci]] during the [[1990 FIFA World Cup|1990 World Cup]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/article6122498.ece|title=Steven Pienaar: mother's pride|last=Hawkey|first=Ian|date=19 April 2009|work=The Times |access-date=7 May 2010 | location=London}}{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}{{subscription required}}</ref>

===Controversy===
Pienaar's ex-girlfriend Danielle Steeneveld attempted to sue Pienaar for ZAR10.8million in August 2009 for not marrying her.<ref>{{cite web|author=E-Brief News |url=http://www.legalbrief.co.za/article.php?story=20090831084538790 |title=Soccer star sued by jilted lover |publisher=Legalbrief |access-date=12 April 2010}}</ref><ref name="thetimes1">{{cite web|url=http://www.thetimes.co.za/PrintEdition/Article.aspx?id=1057330 |title=Breaking SA and World News, Sports, Business, Entertainment and more – Times LIVE |publisher=Thetimes.co.za |access-date=12 April 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090903005050/http://www.thetimes.co.za/PrintEdition/Article.aspx?id=1057330 |archive-date=3 September 2009 }}</ref> 
Pienaar was charged with drunk-driving and failure to comply with a traffic sign in central [[Liverpool]] in February 2010.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/merseyside/8529843.stm |title=Everton FC's Steven Pienaar charged with drink-driving |work=BBC News |date=23 February 2010 |access-date=12 April 2010}}</ref> He was subsequently found guilty of driving whilst under the influence of alcohol and was banned from driving for 12 months.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://metro.co.uk/2010/03/09/evertons-steven-pienaar-fined-and-handed-12-month-drink-driving-ban-156005/ | title = Steven Pienaar given drink-driving ban | publisher = metro.co.uk | date = 9 March 2010 | access-date = 27 April 2013}}</ref>

In April 2012, a warrant was issued for Pienaar's arrest after he failed to appear before Chelmsford Magistrate's court on two counts of speeding.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-17825483 |title = Everton footballer Steven Pienaar bailed after missing court |work=BBC News |date= 24 April 2012 | access-date = 22 December 2012}}</ref>

===Advertising===
In the run up to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, Pienaar was involved in a high-profile [[Adidas]] sportswear advertising campaign.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.advertolog.com/adidas/print-outdoor/the-pienaar-346477/|title=The Pienaar |publisher=advertolog.com|access-date=9 May 2010}}</ref>

==Career statistics==

===Club===
{{updated|match played 31 December 2016.}}<ref>{{cite web|title=S. PIENAAR|url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/steven-pienaar/1960/|website=Soccerway|access-date=4 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Steven Pienaar|url=http://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=26356|website=Soccerbase|access-date=4 September 2015}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
|-
!rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season
!colspan="3"|League
!colspan="2"|National Cup
!colspan="2"|League Cup
!colspan="2"|Continental
!colspan="2"|Other
!colspan="2"|Total
|-
!Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|rowspan="3"|[[Ajax Cape Town F.C.|Ajax Cape Town]]
|[[1999–2000 Premier Soccer League|1999–2000]]
|[[Premier Soccer League]]
|13||5||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||13||5
|-
|[[2000–01 Premier Soccer League|2000–01]]
|Premier Soccer League
|11||1||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||11||1
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!24!!6!!0!!0!!0!!0!!colspan="2"|–!!colspan="2"|–!!24!!6
|-
|rowspan="6"|[[AFC Ajax|Ajax]]
|[[2001–02 AFC Ajax season|2001–02]]
|[[Eredivisie]]
|8||1||0||0||colspan="2"|–||0||0||0||0||8||1
|-
|[[2002–03 AFC Ajax season|2002–03]]
|Eredivisie
|31||5||2||0||colspan="2"|–||12||2||0||0||45||7
|-
|[[2003–04 AFC Ajax season|2003–04]]
|Eredivisie
|16||3||0||0||colspan="2"|–||5||0||0||0||21||3
|-
|[[2004–05 AFC Ajax season|2004–05]]
|Eredivisie
|24||4||2||0||colspan="2"|–||4||0||1||1||31||5
|-
|[[2005–06 AFC Ajax season|2005–06]]
|Eredivisie
|15||2||0||0||colspan="2"|–||9||0||2||0||26||2
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!94!!15!!4!!0!!colspan="2"|–!!30!!2!!3!!1!!131!!18
|-
|[[Borussia Dortmund]]
|[[2006–07 Borussia Dortmund season|2006–07]]
|[[Bundesliga]]
|25||0||2||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||27||0
|-
|[[Everton F.C.|Everton]] (loan)
|[[2007–08 Everton F.C. season|2007–08]]
|[[Premier League]]
|28||2||1||0||3||0||8||0||colspan="2"|–||40||2
|-
|rowspan="4"|Everton
|[[2008–09 Everton F.C. season|2008–09]]
|Premier League
|28||2||6||0||0||0||1||0||colspan="2"|–||35||2
|-
|[[2009–10 Everton F.C. season|2009–10]]
|Premier League
|30||4||2||0||0||0||6||3||colspan="2"|–||38||7
|-
|[[2010–11 Everton F.C. season|2010–11]]
|Premier League
|18||1||0||0||2||0||0||0||colspan="2"|–||20||1
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!104!!9!!9!!0!!5!!0!!15!!3!!colspan="2"|–!!133!!12
|-
|rowspan="3"|[[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]]
|[[2010–11 Tottenham Hotspur F.C. season|2010–11]]
|Premier League
|8||0||1||0||0||0||2||0||colspan="2"|–||11||0
|-
|[[2011–12 Tottenham Hotspur F.C. season|2011–12]]
|Premier League
|2||0||2||0||0||0||3||1||colspan="2"|–||7||1
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!10!!0!!3!!0!!0!!0!!5!!1!!colspan="2"|–!!18!!1
|-
|Everton (loan)
|[[2011–12 Everton F.C. season|2011–12]]
|Premier League
|14||4||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||14||4
|-
|rowspan="5"|Everton
|[[2012–13 Everton F.C. season|2012–13]]
|Premier League
|35||6||4||1||1||0||0||0||colspan="2"|–||40||7
|-
|[[2013–14 Everton F.C. season|2013–14]]
|Premier League
|23||1||2||0||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|–||25||1
|-
|[[2014–15 Everton F.C. season|2014–15]]
|Premier League
|9||0||0||0||0||0||2||0||colspan="2"|–||11||0
|-
|[[2015–16 Everton F.C. season|2015–16]]
|Premier League
|4||0||2||0||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|–||6||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!85!!11!!7!!1!!2!!0!!2!!0!!colspan="2"|–!!96!!12
|-
|[[Sunderland A.F.C.|Sunderland]]
|[[2016–17 Sunderland A.F.C. season|2016–17]]
|Premier League
|15||0||0||0||2||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||17||0
|-
!colspan="3"|Career total
!357!!41!!26!!1!!8!!0!!52!!6!!3!!1!!447!!49
|}

==Honours==
'''Ajax'''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sport24.co.za/Soccer/PSL/steven-pienaar-announces-retirement-from-football-20180301|title=Steven Pienaar announces retirement from football|publisher=Sport24|access-date=30 April 2019}}</ref>
*[[Eredivisie]]: [[2001–02 Eredivisie|2001–02]], [[2003–04 Eredivisie|2003–04]]
*[[KNVB Cup]]: [[2001–02 KNVB Cup|2001–02]]

'''Everton'''
* [[FA Cup]] runner-up: [[2008–09 FA Cup|2008–09]]

'''Individual'''
* [[Ajax Cape Town|Ajax CT Young Player of the Season]]: 2000<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.iol.co.za/sport/marlin-and-moyo-voted-best-footballers-1.339607|title=Marlin and Moyo voted best footballers|publisher=iol.co.za|access-date=25 January 2011|date=20 May 2000 | first = Lennie | last = Kleintjies}}</ref>
* [[List of AFC Ajax records and statistics#AFC Ajax prize winners|Ajax Talent of the Year (Marco van Basten Award)]]: [[2002–03 AFC Ajax season|2002–03]]<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ajax.nl/Ajax-TV/In-de-voetsporen-van-Pienaar-1.htm|title=In de voetsporen van Pienaar (in Dutch)|publisher=Ajax.nl|access-date=15 July 2013|date=10 May 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110907091520/http://www.ajax.nl/Ajax-TV/In-de-voetsporen-van-Pienaar-1.htm|archive-date=7 September 2011}}</ref>
* [[UEFA Champions League]] top assist provider: [[2005–06 UEFA Champions League|2005–06]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=2005/statistics/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111109234807/http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=2005/statistics/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=9 November 2011 |title=UEFA Champions League 2005/06 - History - Statistics – UEFA.com |publisher=[[UEFA]] |access-date=25 October 2017}}</ref>
* [[SAFA Awards|SAFA Player of the Year]]: 2009<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vuvuzelasouthafrica.co.za/steven-pienaar-%E2%80%93-safa-2009-player-of-the-year/|title=SAFA Awards|publisher=vuvuzelasouthafrica.co.za|access-date=23 February 2010 | date = 20 November 2009}}</ref>
* [[Everton F.C. Player of the Season#Player of the Season Award|Everton Player of the Season]]: [[2009–10 Everton F.C. season|2009–10]]<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/e/everton/8662915.stm|title=South Africa's Steven Pienaar wins Everton award|work=BBC Sport|access-date=5 May 2010 | date=5 May 2010}}</ref>

==See also==
* {{portal-inline|Football in Africa}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{Official website}}
* [http://www.evertonfc.com/player-profile/steven-pienaar Steven Pienaar profile] at the Everton website
* {{FIFA player}}
* {{UEFA player}}
* {{Soccerbase}}
* [http://www.goal.com/en-us/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=360331 Goal.com profile]
* {{ESPN FC}}

{{Navboxes
| title = Awards
| bg = Gold
| bordercolor = #000000
| list1 = 
{{AFC Ajax Talent of the Year}}
{{Everton F.C. Player of the Year}}
}}
{{Navboxes
| title = South Africa squads
| bg = #F7EB29
| fg = #006400
| bordercolor = #006400
| list1 = 
{{South Africa squad 2002 FIFA World Cup}}
{{South Africa squad 2008 Africa Cup of Nations}}
{{South Africa squad 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup}}
{{South Africa squad 2010 FIFA World Cup}}
}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pienaar, Steven}}
[[Category:1982 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Soccer players from Johannesburg]]
[[Category:South African men's soccer players]]
[[Category:Men's association football midfielders]]
[[Category:Cape Town Spurs F.C. players]]
[[Category:AFC Ajax players]]
[[Category:Borussia Dortmund players]]
[[Category:Everton F.C. players]]
[[Category:Tottenham Hotspur F.C. players]]
[[Category:Eredivisie players]]
[[Category:Sunderland A.F.C. players]]
[[Category:Bidvest Wits F.C. players]]
[[Category:Bundesliga players]]
[[Category:Premier League players]]
[[Category:Cape Coloureds]]
[[Category:South Africa men's international soccer players]]
[[Category:2002 FIFA World Cup players]]
[[Category:2009 FIFA Confederations Cup players]]
[[Category:2008 Africa Cup of Nations players]]
[[Category:South African expatriate men's soccer players]]
[[Category:South African expatriate sportspeople in the Netherlands]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in the Netherlands]]
[[Category:South African expatriate sportspeople in Germany]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Germany]]
[[Category:South African expatriate sportspeople in England]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in England]]
[[Category:2010 FIFA World Cup players]]
[[Category:AFC Ajax non-playing staff]]
[[Category:21st-century South African sportsmen]]