Former international Willy van de Kerkhof will cash in on his World Cup medals from Munich (1974) and Buenos Aires (1978). Not because he needs the money so badly now, but because his wife has put him to work: “My wife wanted me to clean up the attic,” says the midfielder on the morning program Wakker!
Willy van de Kerkhof was given the honorable nickname of vacuum cleaner during his football career. With his defensive actions he regularly took the sting out of the opponent’s attack.
In the coming days, the household aid in the Van de Kerkhof house will be used to freshen up his attic. “My wife wanted the attic empty. Those football stuff has been in the attic for about twenty years. If I am no longer there, they will probably be thrown away by the children,” says Willy.
“I think it’s a shame if they are thrown away.”
Via via, the former midfielder was referred to the Heritage Auctions Europe auction house in IJsselstein. “There seems to be a lot of enthusiasm for football relics. The World Cup medals could bring in a lot. If someone likes it, it also gets a good destination. I think it would be a shame if it is thrown away.”
Willy’s attic is a treasure trove for the true football fan. In addition to the silver World Cup medals from the finals in Munich (1974) and Buenos Aires (1978), the medals of the European Cup-1 (1988), the UEFA Cup (1978) and a bronze medal from 1976 with the Orange squad are also awarded. under the hammer on June 23.
A short tour of various auction houses learns that football relics can yield hard-hitting coin. For example, the gold medal of the World Cup (2018) was sold for 65,000 euros and that of the 1994 World Cup yielded 44,000 euros. The match ball from the 1974 final changed hands for no less than 14,000 euros.
“The World Cup final in 1978 was the sporting highlight of my life.”
“I can go on holiday for a weekend,” Willy laughs. “The proceeds of the auction go directly to my wife’s bank account. She has a good destination for it. We have ten grandchildren, that will be fine.” According to Willy, his brother René cleaned up all his old football stuff about five or ten years ago.
For Willy, the real football memories are in his head. “You can’t share that with anyone else. The 1978 World Cup final against Argentina was the sporting highlight of my life. I’m very proud of that and I don’t need a medal for it. I think it’s a great idea that the stuff will soon end up with someone who is going to have a lot of fun with it.”
The awards will be auctioned on Thursday 23 June at Heritage Auctions Europe in IJsselstein.
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