Gert_Bals

Gert Bals

Gert Bals

Dutch footballer

Gerrit "Gert" Bals (18 October 1936 – 20 May 2016) was a Dutch footballer who played as a goalkeeper.

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Bals became the first Dutch goalkeeper in an UEFA Cup final, when he played for Ajax in the 1969 European Cup Final against Milan.[1]

Club career

Born in Utrecht, Bals played for local side RUC and Velox before joining SV Zeist[2] when they entered at the start of the professional era in Holland. After a spell at 't Gooi, he moved to PSV for whom he would play 120 matches winning the 1963 league title[3] and later Ajax.

He played 216 official matches for Ajax after making his debut for them in August 1965 and won 4 league titles with the club.[4] He won the Dutch Footballer of the Year Award in 1969.

He finished his career at Vitesse after losing Ajax´ number one jersey to Heinz Stuy in 1970.

Personal life

After retiring as a player, Bals owned a sportshop in Velp and later a tobacco shop in Veendaal.[5] He died in May 2016.

References

  1. [1]
    Voormalig Ajax-keeper Gert Bals overleden - Volkskrant (in Dutch)
  2. [2]
    Oud-doelman Gert Bals overleden - RTV Utrecht (in Dutch)
  3. [3]
    Oud-doelman Gert Bals overleden - PSV (in Dutch)
  4. [4]
    Oud-keeper Gert Bals overleden - Ajax (in Dutch)
  5. [5]
    Legendarische oud-doelman Gert Bals overleden - NOS (in Dutch)
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