Derksen: Dean Huijsen’s father was a ‘decent footballer’, but had the ‘wrong friends’ | OneFootball

As per VoetbalPrimeur, Johan Derksen shared a remarkable story on Vandaag Inside about Donny Huijsen. Just like his son Dean, Donny Huijsen was a footballer, but according to Derksen he had ‘wrong friends’, namely some of those who were behind the kidnapping of Freddy Heineken.

Initially on the show, Valentijn Driessen spoke of his enjoyment of the Netherlands’ two-legged clash with Spain, putting particular praise upon young Dean Huijsen.

“That Huijsen was really great. He gives through balls, dares to dribble. Really old-fashioned.” Fellow journalist and panelist on the show, Chris Woerts, previously called Huijsen ‘the best Dutchman’ of the two-match series despite the AFC Bournemouth defender choosing Spain over the Dutch team.

“His father was also a decent footballer; he just had some bad friends,” Derksen chimed in to everyone’s surprise.

Derksen was, in fact, alluding to 1883’s kidnapping of Freddy Heineken (CEO of the international brewing company) and his driver, Ab Doderer. The pair were snatched by a gang made up of Cor van Hout, Willem Holleeder, Jan Boellaard, Frans Meijer, and Martin Erkamps in a highly orchestrated attack.

After three weeks, the captives were released upon payment of a ransom of 35 million Dutch guilders (around 15,800,000 euros or 17,332,600 US dollars). The culprits were eventually apprehended, but following their respective prison terms, their paths crossed with the football world as Huijsen’s career moved to Haarlem and then Alkmaar.

“He introduced those friends, those Heineken kidnappers, to AZ. The chairman of AZ was terrified of those guys. Huijsen had connections with them, in one way or another.”

Following a promising youth career with Ajax, Huijsen senior was destined to become a big player and didn’t look out of place alongside other prospects like Patrick Kluivert and Clarence Seedorf.

However, things went wrong when he was loaned to Haarlem in 1994. Around the time of good personal form that saw 22 goals in 33 games and the nickname ‘Maradonny’ came about, the player was allegedly spotted making acquaintance with the aforementioned criminals Holleeder and Van Hout.

Huijsen’s good form earned him a contract with AZ in 1995, bringing these shady friends to the chairman’s door.

Donny ended up in a shadowy place as his career wound down. On May 31, 2006, he was sentenced to five years in prison for exporting cocaine to England but was ultimately acquitted on appeal.

Thus, with his new life in Spain, son Dean’s rise to promising football stardom with AFC Bournemouth and La Roja’s national team has rightfully brought about a more exciting and positive chapter in the Huijsen family story.

GBeNeFN | Max Bradfield