Jacques Visschers

Jacques Visschers (December 6, 1940 in Amsterdam) was a Dutch football player, who played his entire football career at NAC Breda. After his football career, Jacques Visschers was NAC Breda’s team manager, one of the founders and a board member of the VVCS and a board member of the S.C.F.. Jacques Visschers was a member of the KNVB’s arbitration committee and was a member of NAC Breda’s supervisory board. Jacques Visschers is also a member of the Order of Orange-Nassau and a member of honour of NAC Breda.

Club career

In his entire football career, Jacques Visschers played at NAC Breda, a club from Breda, The Netherlands. He player there from 1948 until 1971, when he retired from football.

Early years

Born in Amsterdam in 1940, Jacques Visschers only lived shortly in the Dutch capital city. His father was originally from Breda and was temporarily transferred there for his work. At the age of 7 Jacques Visschers wanted to play for NAC Breda, but because he was Catholic, his neighbourhood supported Breda’s V.V. Baronie and he was too young, he didn’t join NAC Breda. When he turned 9 years old, he played his first youth match for NAC Breda.^[1] During his younger career he player as an attacking midfielder. Cor Kools advised him on the age of 18 to become a striker.^[1]

Senior career

On March 6, 1960 Jacques Visschers made his debut for NAC Breda in the away match against Sittardia.^[2] In 1961 he became a semi professional football player, in which he earned 1500 Guilder a year.^[3] In 1965 NAC relegated to the Eerste Divisie, an event in which Jacques Visschers holds himself responsible for. “I always say it’s my fault. Normally I scored 10 to 15 goals a season. That season I only scored two goals”.^[1] At that time Jacques Visschers also thought about retirement. In his opinion football became too harsh and the technical players became the victim. On June 6, 1971 Jacques Visschers played his last match for NAC against MVV. After 282 matches, in which he scored 129 goals,^[3] he retired from professional football.

non-player career

After his football career, Jacques Visschers worked in several roles in the financial sector. He ended up as a financial director for Nimox. Besides his work, he was still actively involved in football. From 1967 until 1977 he was a board member of the VVCS, the Dutch Associating for Professional Football players. In 1978 Jacques Visschers was asked to join the KNVB’s arbitrary commission and later he joined the KNVB’s financial commission. After his professional football career, Jacques Visschers was NAC’s Team Manager. From the nineties onwards, Jacques Visschers postponed his voluntary activities and supported NAC Breda from the stands. In 2003 Jacques Visschers joined NAC’s supervisory board, after the club was saved from near bankruptcy. From 2003 onwards, Jacques Visschers is responsible for Football Affairs and Scouting.

Honours

For his services for Dutch football, Jacques Visschers received the KNVB distinction De Nederlandse Leeuw (English: Dutch Lion).^[2] NAC’s chairman Willem van der Hoeve granted Jacques Visschers NAC Breda’s Member of Honour title for his services for the club.^[4] On August 24, 2008, Jacques Visschers was crowned as a member of the Order of Orange-Nassau. He received his membership for his great contributions to football in Breda and his special contributions to the Dutch football.^[5] At the end of season 2009/2010 it appeared, despite earlier denials by management and the chairman, that NAC had a debt of 3.2 million Euros. The crisis lead to the resignation of Jacques Visschers.

References