Roel Wiersma

Football manager infobox
playername = Roel Wiersma
fullname = Roelof Wiersma
nickname =


dateofbirth = birth date|1932|4|15
cityofbirth = Hilversum
countryofbirth = Netherlands
dateofdeath = death date and age|1995|12|4|1932|4|15
currentclub =
position = Defender
years = 1954-1965 1965-1966
clubs = PSV EVV Eindhoven
caps(goals)= 3160(2) 0040(0)
nationalyears = 1954-1962
nationalteam = Netherlands
nationalcaps(goals) = 0530(0)
manageryears =
managerclubs = TOP Oss

Roelof 'Roel' Wiersma (born 15 april 1932 in Hilversum - died 4 december 1995) Was a football player Defender, who played almost his entire (professional) football career for PSV and also capped 53 times for The Netherlands.

Early career

Wiersma started his football career with the Hilversum based amateur side Donar, where his father was on the board of directors. He would go on to make a lasting impression, during his time with the Air force as he played for the representative football team. This team harboured some players of celebriy status and was therefore under regular observation by KNVB officials. It was, therefore, in these matches that he caught the attention of the KNVB, who would later call him up for the national team, whilst under contract with Donar. This is and was unique, as it makes Roel Wiersma the only player in the history of Dutch football, that has ever been called up for the national side while playing for a 3rd division amateur club.

PSV and Oranje

During his time in the Airforce, Wiersma also trained with PSV a few times, due to the fact that he was frequently stationed at the Welschap Airbase near Eindhoven. In 1954 he signed a contract with the Eindhoven outfit and was simultaneously employed with its founder Philips's corporate division. Besides football, Wiersma played also played a lot of other sports at a high level as well, such as baseball, tennis, basketball and table tennis. In addition to this he also combined his career with a study and obtained a title as an engineer. The arrival of Wiersma at PSV ushered in a golden age for the club. With him on the right fullback position, the club gradually rose to the top. His greatest qualities were his endurance, strength, his aerial ability and his tenacity. Qualities that would later earn him the captaincy of the national side and allowed him to enjoy a string of 35 consecutive matches played without interruption, starting from his debut for Oranje. Wiersma was also a very influential person within the club and was said to have regular meetings with president-direcor Ir. Frans Otten, to talk about the future of the club. Wiersma also had influence with regards to hiring new coaches and prospective new players. In 1965, Wiersma played his 400th match for PSV, but left later that season on a free transfer to EVV Eindhoven. After just 4 matches, he fractures his shin and was forced to quit playing professional football.

Post player career

Despite this dramatic exit from football, Wiersma did remain involved in sports and would go on to coach the PSV waterpolo team and would also go back to football to coach TOP Oss. Later still, he would become involved with the KNVB. On the 4th of February 1995 he would die of a heart attach during a game of tennis. Roel Wiersma played 11 years for PSV and attained 316 league matches, in which he scored 2 times. In 1963 he became champion of the Netherlands with PSV.

References

* Small biography on a PSV icon [http://www.psvzone.nl/interactief_oudpsver.php?id=21] "(Dutch)"