Sjaak Alberts

Born in Arnhem, Alberts started playing football as a youth for Gelria from Velp. Later, he moved to Vitesse where he made his senior debut in the first team of the Arnhem-based club at the age of 16. In September 1953 during the preparation for the new season, he stopped abruptly. He was 27 years old, until recently an international, and captain of Vitesse, which a few months earlier had become champions in the First Division of the East District. The club finished fourth in the national title race. Alberts was a defender who ten years after his debut decided to retire in order to focus entirely on a career outside football. He thereby rejected an offer from Wolverhampton Wanderers to become a professional in England.