Karel Aalbers
Encyclopedia
Karel Aalbers was the President of the soccer club Vitesse (Arnhem
, the Netherlands
) from 1984 until February 2000.
Aalbers' goal was to bring Vitesse from the bottom of the Second League (Eerste divisie, now Jupiler League
), where the club was when he
started, to the top 40 soccer clubs of Europe.
He developed the basic idea for the ‘Gelredome
’, a stadium with a sliding pitch that can be moved out of the building. Later, the same system was applied in Gelsenkirchen
(Schalke 04) and in Japan
. Events such as pop concerts can be held without damaging the grass. Gelredome opened in 1998. It has a roof that can be opened and closed. It is fully climate controlled as well. In the first season after the opening, Gelredome's attendance rose to 20,000, (from less than 8,000 in the old stadium.)
He financed the ambitions by making solid profits on the transfer market. Players such as Roy Makaay
, Sander Westerveld
, Nikos Machlas
, Glenn Helder
and Philip Cocu
were sold for large sums of money. Others came to occupy empty player positions, such as Mahamadou Diarra
and Pierre van Hooijdonk
.
Vitesse ranked top 4 positions, made profit and showed a solid balance sheet in the final years of his presidency.
Aalbers resigned on February 15, 2000, after the main sponsor, Nuon, threatened to pull the plug if he did not. Nuon, as a public utility
company, owned by local authorities, had trouble explaining why it invested heavily in Aalbers' ambitious plans.
His successor was Jan Koning (former chief of Sara Lee/DE who resigned after 4 month). In a short period of time, Vitesse began to show negative financial results, due to poor deals on the transfer market. The club survived numerous financial crises, such as the last one in 2008, when debts were bought of, under the threat of bankruptcy.
Mr. Aalbers is currently a marketing expert and consultant in city and stadium development. He acts as a matchmaker in international projects. He and his wife live in Eerbeek
.
Arnhem
Arnhem is a city and municipality, situated in the eastern part of the Netherlands. It is the capital of the province of Gelderland and located near the river Nederrijn as well as near the St. Jansbeek, which was the source of the city's development. Arnhem has 146,095 residents as one of the...
, the Netherlands
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...
) from 1984 until February 2000.
Aalbers' goal was to bring Vitesse from the bottom of the Second League (Eerste divisie, now Jupiler League
Jupiler League
The Belgian Pro League is the top league competition for association football clubs in Belgium. Contested by 16 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the Belgian Second Division...
), where the club was when he
started, to the top 40 soccer clubs of Europe.
He developed the basic idea for the ‘Gelredome
Gelredome
The GelreDome is a football stadium in the city of Arnhem, in the Netherlands. It serves as the home of the football club Vitesse. It was opened on 25 March 1998, featuring a retractable roof, as well as a convertible pitch, that can be retracted, when unused during concerts or other events held at...
’, a stadium with a sliding pitch that can be moved out of the building. Later, the same system was applied in Gelsenkirchen
Gelsenkirchen
Gelsenkirchen is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located in the northern part of the Ruhr area. Its population in 2006 was c. 267,000....
(Schalke 04) and in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. Events such as pop concerts can be held without damaging the grass. Gelredome opened in 1998. It has a roof that can be opened and closed. It is fully climate controlled as well. In the first season after the opening, Gelredome's attendance rose to 20,000, (from less than 8,000 in the old stadium.)
He financed the ambitions by making solid profits on the transfer market. Players such as Roy Makaay
Roy Makaay
Rudolphus "Roy" Antonius Makaay is a retired Dutch footballer. While playing for Bayern Munich he picked up the nickname Das Phantom , for his ability to score out of nowhere.-Career:...
, Sander Westerveld
Sander Westerveld
Sander Westerveld is a Dutch professional football goalkeeper. He left Sparta Rotterdam at the end of the 2007–08 Eredivisie season to play for Monza, and is currently playing for South African Premier Soccer League club Ajax Cape Town....
, Nikos Machlas
Nikos Machlas
Nikolaos Machlas is a Greek retired footballer and now chairman of OFI Crete. He finished his career as a striker for Cypriot team APOEL.-Club career:...
, Glenn Helder
Glenn Helder
Glenn Helder is a former Dutch footballer. He was a product of Ajax Amsterdam's youth system, though to get first team football he moved to Sparta Rotterdam in 1989 where he played 93 games, scoring nine goals...
and Philip Cocu
Phillip Cocu
Phillip John William Cocu is a former Dutch football midfielder who is currently an assistant manager of the Dutch national team and Dutch club PSV...
were sold for large sums of money. Others came to occupy empty player positions, such as Mahamadou Diarra
Mahamadou Diarra
Mahamadou Diarra is a Malian footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Mali national team. He is captain of the national team.-Early career:Diarra started his career with Greek side OFI Crete...
and Pierre van Hooijdonk
Pierre van Hooijdonk
Petrus Ferdinandus Johannes "Pierre" van Hooijdonk is a retired Dutch football player who played as a striker. His last spell was at Feyenoord Rotterdam. Van Hooijdonk was capped 46 times for the Dutch national team, scoring 21 goals, and played in the 1998 FIFA World Cup, Euro 2000 and Euro 2004...
.
Vitesse ranked top 4 positions, made profit and showed a solid balance sheet in the final years of his presidency.
Aalbers resigned on February 15, 2000, after the main sponsor, Nuon, threatened to pull the plug if he did not. Nuon, as a public utility
company, owned by local authorities, had trouble explaining why it invested heavily in Aalbers' ambitious plans.
His successor was Jan Koning (former chief of Sara Lee/DE who resigned after 4 month). In a short period of time, Vitesse began to show negative financial results, due to poor deals on the transfer market. The club survived numerous financial crises, such as the last one in 2008, when debts were bought of, under the threat of bankruptcy.
Mr. Aalbers is currently a marketing expert and consultant in city and stadium development. He acts as a matchmaker in international projects. He and his wife live in Eerbeek
Eerbeek
Eerbeek is a settlement in the municipality of Brummen in the province of Gelderland in the Netherlands. Eerbeek was first mentioned in 1046 as Erbeke. Since the 17th century Eerbeek has been known for its papermills...
.