Jan Bens

Jan Bens (15 April 1921 – 12 May 2012) was a Dutch professional 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
Position(s)	Winger
Youth career
1933–1938	Feyenoord
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1940–1947	Feyenoord	76	(25)
1947–1955[1]	EBOH
Managerial career
1962–1964	DFC
1964–1966	Cambuur
1968–1970	Cambuur
1970–1972	SVV
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

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] A winger, 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]