Gert Bals, Dutch footballer, Died at 79

  Sports

Gert Bals was born on October 18, 1936, in Utrecht and died May 20, 2016.

He was a Dutch footballer.

Gert played as a goalkeeper.

Bals became the first Dutch goalkeeper in a UEFA Cup final, when he played for Ajax in the 1969 European Cup Final against Milan.

Gert Bals played for local side RUC and Velox before joining SV Zeist when they entered the at the start of the professional era in Holland.

Following a spell at ‘t Gooi, Gert moved to PSV for whom he would play 120 matches winning the 1963 league title and later Ajax.

Gert Bals has played 216 official matches for Ajax after making his debut for them in August 1965 and won 4 league titles with the club.

In 1969, Gert Bals won the Dutch Footballer of the Year Award.

He finished his career at Vitesse after losing Ajax´ number one jersey to Heinz Stuy in 1970.

After retiring as a player, Bals owned a sport shop in Velp and later a tobacco shop in Veendaal.

Gert Bals passed away at 79 yrs old.