Jan Bens

Jan Bens (15 April 1921 – 12 May 2012) was a Dutch professional association football player and coach; he was also an amateur boxer and trainer.

Jan Bens
Personal information
Date of birth (1921-04-15)15 April 1921
Place of birth Rotterdam, Netherlands
Date of death 12 May 2012(2012-05-12) (aged 91)
Place of death Rotterdam, Netherlands
Youth career
1933–1938 Feyenoord
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1940–1947 Feyenoord 76 (25)
1947–1955[1] EBOH
Teams managed
1962–1964 DFC
1964–1966 Cambuur
1968–1970 Cambuur
1970–1972 SVV
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Football career

Playing career

Born in Rotterdam, Bens joined hometown club Feyenoord at the age of 12 and made his senior debut at the age of 17.[2] In a match against Ajax on 6 December 1942, Bens became the first player ever to be sent off in De Klassieker, after punching Ajax goalkeeper Gerrit Keizer.[2][3] He scored 25 goals in 76 first team games for Feyenoord.[4] In 2007, he was the last surviving Feyenoord player from before World War II.[3]

He left Feyenoord for EBOH in 1947.[5]

Managerial career

After retiring as a player, Bens became a manager and coach, working in both the Netherlands and Australia with Go Ahead Eagles, EBOH, DFC, SC Cambuur, Ringwood City Wilhelmina and SVV.[2]

Boxing career

Bens had a career as an amateur boxer, alongside his football career.[2] He also trained professional boxer Lolle van Houten.[2]

Later life and death

Bens died on 12 May 2012, at the age of 91.[6]

References
  1. "EBOH – Historie Betaald Voetbal".
  2. Johan Derksen (5 November 2007). "'De laatste wens van Jan Bens'" (in Dutch). Voetbal International.
  3. Jurryt van de Vooren (26 March 2007). "Met Jan Bens naar het jarige Stadion Feyenoord (inclusief historisch dossier)" (in Dutch). sportgeschiedenis.nl. Archived from the original on 17 November 2011.
  4. Oer-Feyenoorder Jan Bens overleden - Feyenoord
  5. 'Ik zou haast zeggen, ik ben Feyenoordwaardig' Jan Bens.. - Volkskrant (in Dutch)
  6. "Oer-Feyenoorder Bens overleden" (in Dutch). NOS Sport. 14 May 2012.
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