Dutch football icon Joop van Daele famed for wearing glasses on the pitch dies at 77 as club reveal ‘great sorrow’
DUTCH football is in mourning after specs-wearing icon Joop van Daele lost his fight for life.
The short-sighted Feyenoord defender, who wore glasses on the pitch, died this week aged 77.
A Feyenoord statement read: “It is with great sorrow that we have learned of the passing of our former player and scout Joop van Daele.
“Rotterdam born and bred, he was part of the club’s Seventies heydays.
“He will forever have a proud place in history as the man who won us the Intercontinental Cup.
“Van Daele, whose funeral will take place in private with just his family, was 77 years old.
“We will open a book of condolences for him.
“We wish his family and friends every strength to cope with their loss.”
The late Van Daele helped Feyenoord win the 1970 European Cup.
He then scored the winner as his side beat Argentina‘s Estudiantes to lift the Intercontinental Cup later that year.
The competition is the forerunner of the Club World Cup, which this year will see Manchester City and Chelsea compete in the US.
Two rival players infamously ripped off Van Daele’s specs and smashed them on the turf as he celebrated his goal.
Several Dutch singers later made records celebrating the shameful incident and the broken glasses ended up in Feyenoord’s club museum.
The Rotterdam-born defender also won the UEFA Cup, three Eredivisie titles and a Dutch FA Cup with Feyenoord.
He later switched to using contact lenses and ended his playing career with Feyenoord’s city rivals Excelsior after a spell with Fortuna Sittard.
Van Daele later worked as a scout for the De Kuip club and coached several lower-league Dutch sides.