Netherlands mourns Van der Hart

Skilled defender
Van der Hart was a strong and skilful central defender famed for his superb passing ability. He was born in Amsterdam on 25 January 1928 and made his debut for his hometown club AFC Ajax in 1946. He won the Dutch title the following year and enjoyed four seasons with Ajax before turning professional with LOSC Lille Métropole in France in 1950. He returned to the Netherlands in 1954 and spent the remainder of his playing days with Fortuna '54, with whom he landed another championship in 1957, before retiring in 1966 aged 38.

Coaching career
Because of the ban on professionals representing their country imposed by the Royal Netherlands Football Association (KNVB), Van der Hart did not make his international bow until he was 27 - in a 1-1 draw against Denmark in March 1955. He went on to coach Holland Sport, AZ Alkmaar, R. Standard de Liège, Fortuna SC, FC Amsterdam, MVV Maastricht, ADO Den Haag and FC Volendam as well as working with the KNVB, most notably at the 1974 World Cup in West Germany where the Netherlands lost to the hosts in the final. As a mark of respect, Ajax players will wear black armbands during tonight's UEFA Cup tie against SV Zulte Waregem.