Willy Dullens
![]() Dullens in 1966 | |||
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Date of birth | 29 January 1945 | ||
Place of birth | Broeksittard, Netherlands | ||
Date of death | 16 June 2024 | (aged 79)||
Height | 1.69 m (5 ft 7 in) | ||
Position(s) | Forward | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
1963–1968 | RKSV Sittardia | 104 | (33) |
National team | |||
1966 | Netherlands | 4 | (0) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals |
Willy Dullens (29 January 1945 – 16 June 2024) was a Dutch footballer who played for RKSV Sittardia and the Netherlands national team but his career was cut short due to injury. In 1966, uniquely while playing in the Eerste Divisie, he was chosen as the Dutch Footballer of the Year.[1][2][3][4]
Dullens and Johan Cruijff were seen as the biggest talents of Dutch football in the 1960's. Cruijff said that Dullens was more skilled than him. After Dullens was forced to retire, Cruijff and Sjaak Swart organised a charity match for him. The match, between AFC Ajax and Alemannia Aachen at the Olympic Stadium in Amsterdam, was attended by 60,000 spectators.[5]
Dullens played four matches for the Dutch national team, all in 1966. He made his debut in a 3-1 victory over Belgium. He also played in a 3-0 victory over Scotland and in a 1-2 loss to Czechoslovakia, both friendly matches. Dullens played his final cap in November 1966, a Euro 1968 qualifying match against Denmark (2-0 victory).
Dullens was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2021.[6] He died on 16 June 2024, at the age of 79.[7]
References
- ^ "Willy Dullens: the Dutch talent many thought could've been better than Cruyff". 4 June 2018. Retrieved 4 October 2018.
- ^ "Balverliefd: De jeukende vingers van Willy Dullens". www.vi.nl. 10 September 2018. Retrieved 4 October 2018.
- ^ "Fortuna Sittard". 15 April 2016. Archived from the original on 15 April 2016.
- ^ "Holland Sport -> Afleveringen -> Holland Sport -> Items -> Willy Dullens op de Massagetafel". 1 September 2007. Archived from the original on 1 September 2007.
- ^ "'Cruijff van Limburg' en oud-international Willy Dullens (79) overleden" (in Dutch).
- ^ "Voetbalicoon Willy Dullens overleden". L1 Nieuws (in Dutch). 16 June 2024. Retrieved 16 June 2024.
- ^ "Willy Dullens, de 'Cruijff van Limburg', op 79-jarige leeftijd overleden". NU.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 16 June 2024.
- CS1 Dutch-language sources (nl)
- Articles with short description
- Use dmy dates from June 2024
- Articles with invalid date parameter in template
- 1945 births
- 2024 deaths
- Dutch men's footballers
- Fortuna Sittard non-playing staff
- Netherlands men's international footballers
- Sportspeople from Sittard
- Men's association football forwards
- Footballers from Limburg (Netherlands)
- Fortuna Sittard players
- Deaths from Alzheimer's disease in the Netherlands
- All stub articles
- Dutch football midfielder stubs