Eddy Hamel
Encyclopedia
Eddy Hamel was an American football player for Dutch
club AFC Ajax.
Die-hard Ajax supporters call themselves "Joden" — Dutch for "Jews" — a nickname that reflects both the team's and the city's Jewish heritage. This nickname for Ajax fans dates back to before World War II
, when Amsterdam
was home to most of the Netherlands' 140,000 Jews.
Hamel was the first Jewish player for Ajax. Born in New York
, he moved to Amsterdam in his teenage years. As a right winger, Hamel became a first team regular for Ajax. He was the first player with a Jewish background who made it to the first team, and to date only three others have followed in his footsteps - Johnny Roeg
, Bennie Muller and Daniël de Ridder
. Hamel was a fan favourite and was cited by pre-World War II club legend Wim Anderiesen
as part of the strongest line-up he ever played with.
After his retirement as a player, he managed Alcmaria Victrix for three years and continued to play in an Ajax veteran squad.
Hamel was also to become the club's only war victim who played for the first team of Ajax. He was murdered in the Auschwitz concentration camp
on 30 April 1943.
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
club AFC Ajax.
Die-hard Ajax supporters call themselves "Joden" — Dutch for "Jews" — a nickname that reflects both the team's and the city's Jewish heritage. This nickname for Ajax fans dates back to before World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, when Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
was home to most of the Netherlands' 140,000 Jews.
Hamel was the first Jewish player for Ajax. Born in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, he moved to Amsterdam in his teenage years. As a right winger, Hamel became a first team regular for Ajax. He was the first player with a Jewish background who made it to the first team, and to date only three others have followed in his footsteps - Johnny Roeg
Johnny Roeg
Johnny Roeg was a Dutch footballer who played as a striker for Ajax.Roeg was one of only four Jewish players to have played for Ajax - the others being Eddy Hamel, Bennie Muller and Daniël de Ridder.-External links:...
, Bennie Muller and Daniël de Ridder
Daniël de Ridder
Daniël Robin Frederick de Ridder is a Dutch footballer who currently plays for Grasshopper Club Zürich. He has previously played for Ajax, Celta Vigo, Birmingham City and Wigan Athletic as a forward, winger or attacking midfielder....
. Hamel was a fan favourite and was cited by pre-World War II club legend Wim Anderiesen
Wim Anderiesen
Willem Gerardus "Wim" Anderiesen was a Dutch footballer. He was born in Amsterdam.He played for Ajax Amsterdam from 1925 to 1940, and earned 46 caps for the Netherlands national football team, and participated in the 1934 and 1938 World Cups. He died in 1944 from pneumonia...
as part of the strongest line-up he ever played with.
After his retirement as a player, he managed Alcmaria Victrix for three years and continued to play in an Ajax veteran squad.
Hamel was also to become the club's only war victim who played for the first team of Ajax. He was murdered in the Auschwitz concentration camp
Auschwitz concentration camp
Concentration camp Auschwitz was a network of Nazi concentration and extermination camps built and operated by the Third Reich in Polish areas annexed by Nazi Germany during World War II...
on 30 April 1943.
See also
- List of select Jewish football (association; soccer) players