“Bobby Haarms is Ajax”

Bobby Haarms in 2000, celebrating his retirement…

With the death of Bobby Haarms, Ajax lost one of the greatest club icons ever. This is what several prominent Ajax-members say in a statement after the passing away of the 75 year old Honorary Ajax-member. “Bob Haarms is Ajax. No one has meant so much for this club as him,” said Ajax general manager Rik van den Boog on the Ajax website.

Haarms, who has been seriously ill for some time, worked for Ajax in many different roles, from player to assistant coach. Chairman Uri Coronel: “Bobby was a true Son of Ajax. An icon, with an unconditional love and loyalty towards the club. His life was aimed at Ajax. Ajax always came first and his popularity among member and supporters is a testament to him.”

Danny Blind, technical manager and Jol’s assistant coach next season, worked with Haarms while he still was a player. “Bob was a true blue Ajax man. You can’t be more Ajax than him.”

Frank de Boer, currently in Iceland with Oranje, remembers Haarms’ passion. “He was so passionate and driven. You couldn’t switch off for a second with Bobby. He was also our recovery coach. Whenever you came back from injury, Bobby would train individually with you. Man, he was tough. You rather not got injured, you know. The only player I know that actually liked working with Bobby like that was Jari Litmanen. We called Bobby the Benevolent Butcher, haha… Bobby had red-white flowing through his veins. Only one thing counted and that was the club.”

Haarms became an Ajax member on this 13th birthday and started to play in the Ajax youth. He was born opposite the old De Meer stadium and made his debut in Ajax 1 when he was eightteen years old.
He’d play 72 games in Ajax 1 and scored once. In 1967, his old team mate Rinus Michels asked him to work as amateur coach at Ajax. He would work as scout, youth coach, assistant trainer and recovery trainer at Ajax.

Haarms quit his job and retired in 2000. His health deteriorated but Haarms would visit every home game Ajax played. In the last seasons, he was wheelchair bound, but always made it to the game.

On June 13, Ajax will have a ceremony for Haarms at the Toekomst (Future) amateur complex of Ajax in Amsterdam. It starts at 11 am and Ajax warns people to come early. This will surely become a massive ceremony.

There’s a condolence register on www.condoleance.nl.