Adelaide United’s new goalkeeper, Joshua Smits, arrives with top-level European experience and a calm, reliable presence. Known for his resilience and leadership, the Dutch shot-stopper is ready to mentor young players and anchor the Reds’ defence in the A-League.
When Joshua Smits ordered his first coffee in Adelaide last week, it was no fuss, no frills. “Just a Lungo, black, no sugar, no milk,” he said. Straight to the point. In many ways, that simple order sums up the Reds’ new Dutch goalkeeper: honest, grounded, and here to do his job with a quiet confidence that already feels reassuring.
At 32, Smits has played at some of Europe’s most atmospheric grounds and experienced the highs of league titles and European football. But his story isn’t one of an overnight star – it’s a tale of resilience, and a reminder that there’s more than one way to make it in professional football.
For most professional footballers in the Netherlands, the path is well-trodden: scouted at 12 or 13, signed into an academy, and moulded for the Eredivisie. For Smits, it was different.
“I was still playing amateur football at 18,” he recalls. “Most people said it was too late. I had a late growth spurt – I was still small when scouts were looking at me. But I kept going because I loved goalkeeping.”
Josh Smits in action with De Treffers Groesbeek – just before making the leap to professional football.
That persistence paid off when NEC Nijmegen took a chance on him. Starting as a fourth-choice keeper, Smits worked his way up season by season. By 22, he was the club’s number one, helping them win the second division and earn promotion.
“That was a fantastic moment,” he says. “To go from amateur football to being champion in just a few years was crazy. It taught me that if you stay patient and keep pushing, opportunities can come, even if they come later than expected.”
After NEC, Smits’ career took him to Almere City, then onto Norway with Bodø/Glimt, where he became part of one of European football’s most remarkable underdog stories.
“When I arrived, it was a small club, but they invested in the right things – players, facilities, staff. Everyone bought into the philosophy. We played fearless, attacking football, and the results came,” he says.
Josh with his parents in the Netherlands
That included memorable European nights, including a famous 6–1 victory over Jose Mourinho’s AS Roma in the UEFA Conference League.
“You could see big teams didn’t want to play us – especially up north in minus ten degrees on an artificial pitch with the wind howling,” Smits laughs. “But that was our advantage. We believed in what we were doing.”
Those experiences, he says, shaped not only his skills but also his mentality. “Football at that level is intense, but it’s also simple: everyone knows their role, everyone buys in. That’s when special things happen.”
Smits is quick to admit that goalkeeping isn’t for the faint-hearted. Mistakes are magnified, and every decision is scrutinised.
“Football is a game of mistakes,” he says. “But as a goalkeeper, yours are the most visible. You can’t hide. You make a mistake, and the ball is in the net. That’s tough mentally.”
“It’s about staying calm and not overthinking. If you go into a game trying to prove how good you are, you’re already in the wrong mindset. Just be reliable. Be someone the team can trust. And if you do make a mistake, you move on quickly. Focus on the next action. Experience has taught me that.”
It’s a philosophy he’s eager to share with Adelaide United’s young keepers, Max Vartuli and Ethan Cox.
“I learned so much from older goalkeepers when I was coming through. Now it’s my turn to give back. Goalkeepers are leaders – you see the whole field, you guide the defence. Age doesn’t matter in that sense, but experience helps. If I can pass some of that on, that’s a privilege.”
If football has shaped Smits’ resilience, family has given him perspective. His partner and two-year-old daughter will join him in Adelaide in a few weeks, and while the move to Australia is exciting, it’s also a leap into the unknown.
Josh with his parter Manon and daughter Lóa
“We lived abroad before, in Norway, but that was without kids. Now it’s different,” he admits. “Of course, it’s exciting, but also a bit nervous – how will she adjust, how will we settle in? But that’s part of the adventure.”
He grins when he talks about fatherhood. “You don’t really know what it’s like until it happens. It’s like falling in love all over again. My daughter doesn’t care if I’ve had a good game or a bad one – she just wants to play with dad. That’s the best way to switch off.”
Even in the tough early weeks apart, he’s keeping the connection strong. “It’s FaceTime every day. She doesn’t understand yet, but she knows daddy’s in a new place, and soon she’ll be here too. That’s the most important thing for me.”
So far, Smits has been welcomed warmly by his new teammates and has had his first glimpse of the city, the beaches, and the training base at Playford.
“It feels familiar to me, a bit like Western Europe,” he says. “I can see why people come here to live. It’s relaxed, people are friendly. Even with the grey skies when I arrived, I can already imagine how amazing it will be in summer.”
Josh holding the Eerste Divisie Championship trophy with Willem II in 2024
And as a self-confessed wine lover, Adelaide’s famous regions have already caught his eye. “I’ve been told I need to visit McLaren Vale, the Barossa, and the Hills. I’m looking forward to that. But only on days off, of course!”
For now, Smits is focused on bedding into his new team, learning the names of his many new teammates, and preparing for the season ahead.
“I want to be reliable,” he says simply. “A goalkeeper the team can trust, someone who brings calm. Football is full of chaos, but if I can bring stability at the back, then I’ve done my job.”
Calm, grounded, and with both experience and perspective, Josh Smits isn’t just Adelaide United’s new potential number one – he’s a family man, a mentor, and a character Reds fans will quickly come to admire.
