Hassie van Wijk

Hassie van Wijk
Van Wijk in 1963
Personal information
Date of birth (1939-05-10)10 May 1939
Place of birth Amsterdam, Netherlands
Date of death 30 July 2026(2026-07-30) (aged 87)
Place of death Landsmeer, Netherlands
Position Midfielder
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1958–1963 De Volewijckers 59+ (7+)
1963–1964 ADO Den Haag 27 (0)
1964–1968 Telstar 102 (8)
1968–1971 AZ '67 34 (1)
Total 222+ (16+)
International career
Netherlands U21 2 (0)
Managerial career
AZ '67 (assistant)
De Spartaan
Ajax (youth)
DWG
Ajax U19
Jong Ajax
1982–1984 Ajax (assistant)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Hassie van Wijk (10 May 1939 – 30 July 2026) was a Dutch football player and manager who played as a midfielder.

Playing career

Van Wijk began his career at De Volewijckers, helping them achieve promotion to the Eredivisie.[1] In the summer of 1963, following the club's relegation to the Eerste Divisie, he signed for ADO Den Haag, where he made a total of 30 appearances before joining Telstar the following summer. After three seasons at Telstar, he joined AZ '67, where he spent another three seasons before retiring.[2]

He also made two appearances for the Netherlands under-21 national team.[3]

Managerial career

Following his retirement, van Wijk became an assistant manager at AZ Alkmaar, before later serving as the manager of De Spartaan.[1] During the early 1970s, he was offered a youth coaching role at Ajax by board member André Kraan, which he accepted. However, he didn't feel at home at the club, and eventually joined DWG. At the recommendation of Arie van Eijden, he returned to Ajax, this time as the manager of Ajax's A1 (under-19) team and Jong Ajax.[3] Eventually, he was appointed an assistant manager for the club under Aad de Mos.[4] On 5 December 1983, he notably helped orchestrate a penalty kick for Ajax, which was taken in two parts by Jesper Olsen and Johan Cruyff against Helmond Sport.[2]

On 29 January 1984,[5] during a friendly match against HMSH in The Hague, the concrete roof of the stadium's dugout collapsed due to the weight of children that had been sitting on it. A total of eight people were injured, with van Wijk being the most serious,[3] as he suffered a broken neck and shattered left foot, with all his toes having to be amputated.[2] Despite wanting to return to the club, he was declared unfit, resulting in him leaving football.[1][4][3]

Personal life and death

Van Wijk had two children. His son Dennis was also a footballer and manager, who played for the likes of Ajax, Norwich City and Club Brugge, while his daughter married Belgian international footballer Marc Degryse.[5][2]

Van Wijk died in his sleep in Landsmeer, on 30 July 2026, at the age of 87.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Roele, Jesper (30 July 2026). "Amsterdammer Hassie van Wijk, oud-'Mosveldbaby' en voormalig assistent-trainer van Ajax, overleden op 87-jarige leeftijd" [Amsterdammer Hassie van Wijk, former ‘Mosveld baby’ and former assistant coach of Ajax, passed away at the age of 87.]. Het Parool (in Dutch). Retrieved 2 August 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Oud-speler Hassie van Wijk (87) overleden" [Former player Hassie van Wijk (87) passed away]. ADO Den Haag (in Dutch). 31 July 2026. Retrieved 2 August 2026.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Voormalig Ajax-trainer Hassie van Wijk overleden (87)" [Former Ajax coach Hassie van Wijk passed away (87)]. AFC Ajax (in Dutch). 30 July 2026. Retrieved 2 August 2026.
  4. 1 2 "Oud-Ajax-trainer Hassie van Wijk (87) overleden" [Former Ajax coach Hassie van Wijk (87) passed away]. Voetbal International (in Dutch). 31 July 2026. Retrieved 2 August 2026.
  5. 1 2 "Oud-speler Hassie van Wijk (87) overleden" ["Former player Hassie van Wijk (87) passed away"]. Headliner (in Dutch). 31 July 2026. Retrieved 2 August 2026.
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