 Muller in 1961 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 14 August 1938 | ||
| Place of birth | Amsterdam, Netherlands | ||
| Date of death | 17 January 2024 (aged 85) | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1958–1970 | Ajax | 341 | (30) |
| 1970–1971 | Holland Sport | ||
| 1971–1972 | Blauw-Wit | ||
| Total | 341+ | (30+) | |
| International career | |||
| 1960–1968 | Netherlands | 43 | (2) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Bennie Muller (14 August 1938 – 17 January 2024) was a Dutch professional footballer who played as a midfielder for Ajax and the Netherlands national team.
Muller was born in the Jewish Quarter of Amsterdam-East.[1] His grandfather was a fruit seller named Levi Sluiter.[2] His mother was incarcerated in Westerbork transit camp during World War II.[1] Approximately 200 members of Muller's extended family were killed in the Holocaust.[3]
Muller played club football for Ajax beginning in 1958, and was its captain.[4][1] He made his debut for Ajax against MVV and played 426 official matches for the club.[5] He won five league titles and three domestic cups with them.[6]
Muller made his debut for the Netherlands national team in an April 1960 friendly match against Bulgaria, earning 43 caps in total, and also serving as captain.[7][1] His final international was an October 1968 World Cup qualification match against Bulgaria.[8]
Muller was Jewish,[9][10] and was one of only six Jewish players to have played for Ajax – the others being Eddy Hamel, Johnny Roeg, Sjaak Swart, Daniël de Ridder and Ilan Boccara.[11][12]
Muller married on 27 September 1961. He had a daughter, Petra,[13] and a son Danny, who was also a professional footballer. Muller later owned a cigar shop near Amsterdam Centraal station.[3]
Bennie Muller died on 17 January 2024, at the age of 85.[14][15]
