Sunday, June 01, 2014

World Cup '74 Portrait #71 (Rob Rensenbrink: Holland)




graphite & putty eraser, with watercolour pencil/30x21cm

Today’s randomly-chosen subject depicts Rob Rensenbrink, who appeared in sticker form in both the FKSPanini albums published to accompany the 1974 World Cup & was selected for the Holland squad for the tournament, where he went on to play in six of seven matches the Dutch contested (missing only the goalless draw with Sweden), scoring once, against East Germany, although history records he was withdrawn at half-time in the Final.

Given the profile Rensenbrink enjoyed during the 1970s – he appeared in the 1978 World Cup in addition to starring for his Belgian club Anderlecht as they reached three successive European Cup-Winners’ Cup finals from 1976, winning the first & last (scoring the decisive equalising goal at Wrexham as Anderlecht overcame their hosts during their progress that first year, & then twice against West Ham in the Final itself as they triumphed 4 - 2) – his seems like a name I should remember from 1974, but is perhaps not, the memory of these other events more likely fixing it in mind, although nothing can be certain.  

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