Nico Rijnders

Nico Rijnders

Co Prins and Nico Rijnders (middle), in 1970
Personal information
Full nameNico Rijnders
Date of birth30 July 1947
Place of birthBreda, Netherlands
Date of death16 March 1976 (aged 28)
Place of deathBrugge, Belgium
Playing positionMidfielder
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
19651968NAC Breda64(4)
19681969Go Ahead Eagles32(1)
19691971Ajax Amsterdam61(3)
19711972RWD Molenbeek30(2)
19721973Club Brugge10(2)
National team
19691970Netherlands8(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 15 July 2011

Nico Rijnders (30 July 1947, Breda - 16 March 1976) was a Dutch footballer who played for NAC Breda and Ajax Amsterdam and was part of their European Cup victory in 1971. He earned 8 caps for the Netherlands national football team. He collapsed on 12 November 1972 while playing for Club Brugge against RFC Liège and was clinically dead when he was transported off the pitch, he was successfully reanimated by the club doctor but the incident ended Rijnders' playing career. His health condition was never fully recovered and he died three years later, aged 28.