R.I.P. Bobby Haarms (1934-2009)

[Kowalczyk]

Bobby Haarms has passed away. He died last night, at 1:15 CET, at Amsterdam's V.U. Hospital. He was 75 years old.

Bob Haarms dedicated almost his entire life to Ajax. He was born on March 8th, 1934 along Middenweg in Amsterdam-East, directly opposite Ajax's future stadium De Meer, which was being built when Bobby was born. Having played a few test games, Haarms became a 'playing member' of the club at age 13.

He made his début in Ajax's first team on September 28th, 1952, against Heracles, aged 18. It was the first of 72 first team appearances, in which he scored one goal.

In 1967 Bob Haarms received a phonecall from head-coach Rinus Michels, who asked him to become his assistant and coach the Ajax amateurs. In later years Haarms became a scout, a youth coach, coach-assistant and 'recovery coach' for his club. He left Ajax for a very brief stint as head-coach of FC Volendam, but that was the only interruption of his coaching career at Ajax, which started in 1967 and ended in 2000. He was on the bench during every European final Ajax played. After his very last game as a coach assistant, against MVV, he was made a 'member of honour' of AFC Ajax.

After his official retirement he continued to work for the club, as 'pitch manager' or supporters' home supervisor. He never missed an Ajax game, even when his health deteriorated: he refused to miss a game and watched every single fixture from his wheelchair.

The Ajax supporters adored Bob Haarms. Last season, during the home game against Roda JC they honoured him with a massive banner featuring his portrait and the words 'Bobby - Ajacied Forever'. Of course, the supporters will get the opportunity to say goodbye to Bob. More information will be published on Ajax.nl on Sunday.

* * * * *

With the deepest, deepest respect: rest in peace, dear Bobby.

Thank you for your always being there for this club.

OMG...

K.

[jamie]

It really is a sad day. First Sjakie and now Bobby. We don't have too many real icons left.

I feel rather emotional now and don't know what to say exactly but I pray that we can win the league next year in honor of him.

[SPL]

Another legend goes.

[ZoefdeHaas]

R.I.P Haarms. You will be missed.

[SE6Ajacied]

RIP Bobby, I just love my old video of you showing the fans round De Meer, the old ground. Even though I never visited De Meer, and never met you, the spirit and passion of both stadium and you the man really shines through in that film.

A true Ajacied has passed.

[Blind3]

Rinus Michels and Bobby Haarms, together again. No doubt the general kept the spot on his staff open for his right hand man. A very sad day indeed. Heartfelt condolences to his family , friends , and the Ajax nation as a whole. A great man is gone.

[Kowalczyk]

Check these photos, on Ajax.nl:

http://www.ajax.nl/Nieuws/Nieuwsarchief ... -fotos.htm

The bottom one, with Rinus Michels, was taken not long before Michels died. Very moving, that one.

K.

[Mr_Holte]

Being of the younger generation, I've only known of him through things I've read and seen etc, but he was certainly an Ajax legend.

R.I.P

Below is a short video my mate made:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jexX1B4T ... annel_page

[aveslacker]

[Over Pasanens Head]

Very very sad but what a great life he led and how much pleasure he brought to so many people.

[Rooie]

Page-filling advertisement in De Telegraaf:

[Kowalczyk]

Just read on several websites of the passing of Bobby Haarms on Friday . We' ll not see his likes again. Heartfelt condolences to his family and friends. The Ajax nation has lost a great man .

K.

[Kowalczyk]

The service for Bobby, organized by Ajax at De Toekomst, was shown live on AT5 (local TV station).

Here's a compilation:
http://www.at5.nl/artikelen/18238/compi ... bby-haarms

Here's a photo report on Ajax.nl:
http://www.ajax.nl/Nieuws/Laatste-nieuw ... Haarms.htm

And here's the photo report on the Ajax Foto Side:
http://www.ajaxfotoside.net/0809thuis/h ... aarms.html

K.

[Blind3]

Thank you for posting the links. A service befitting the man !

[SE6Ajacied]

Thank you for posting the links. A service befitting the man !

Thanks for the link Ko, very moving and a nice touch naming the stand after him. I'm surprised they've not done something at the Arena rather than De Toekomst but I suppose he did do a lot of work with the youth and other teams (and besides Ajax don't own the Arena I suppose).

Good service anyway, not sure most English teams would do the same, especially not for someone who was never 1st team coach.......

[Philippe]

Respect

[Kowalczyk]

I went to Bobby's grave the other day.

He's buried at the Nieuwe Ooster Begraafplaats ('New Eastern Cemetery') in the Watergraafsmeer district. Beautiful, classic cemetery (est. 1890 or something), with beautiful big old trees, right next to Betondorp ('Concrete Village'), where Bobby was born (main entrance of the cemetery is at the other end, on Kruislaan). It stretches out along Middenweg, so Bobby's resting a rock's throw from the house where he was born and a couple hundred metres from where De Meer once was. Could anyone think of a better place?

If you want to visit his grave when you're in Amsterdam, enter the cemetery through the main gate on Kruislaan and follow the path that bends to the right (keeping the building on your left hand side). You'll see a few huge black marble gypsy graves (Yugoslavijan names and pictures of their big Mercedes cars on it! - which is what they do, apparently). Follow the path to section 25 and Bobby's right there, along the main path, on the corner of the section.

I went there the day after the funeral and it was one sea of red and white flowers and Ajax scarves. Very impressive. I left some more red and white roses behind.

K.

[bryan]

Just read now that the man has died. I was at sea for the past week and a half. Didn't realise he was so sick.

Needless to say, if everybody at Ajax had the drive, enthusiasm, friendliness and honesty that Bobby had then the club would be a great deal better off. RIP

[Rooie]

Statue for Bobby is finished and should be unveiled before the start of the new season.

[Rooie]

Bobby's statue has been unveiled:

[Blind3]

Perfect statement of the man . Bobby in classic pose...at the Ajax bench and full concentration on the matter at hand. Can't wait to see it in person.

[Flipster81]

Awesome!! fitting tribute for 'Mr Ajax'