John de Wolf
A fearsome, long-haired defender for Feyenoord, he embodied the passionate, hard-tackling heart of Dutch football in the early 90s.
Born 1962 (age 64)·Dutch footballer·Birthday: December 10·Baby Boomers
Biography
With a mane of flowing hair and a tackle that could shake the foundations of De Kuip stadium, John de Wolf was the cult hero personified for Feyenoord. He was not a sleek, technical product of the Dutch system, but a throwback center-half whose commitment was absolute and whose physical presence dominated penalty areas. His peak came after a move from FC Twente, as he became the defensive anchor for a Feyenoord side that broke Ajax's dominance to win the Eredivisie in 1993. Fans adored his obvious passion and his knack for crucial goals, often celebrated with unrestrained joy. While his time with the Dutch national team was limited, overshadowed by a generation of stars, his legacy in Rotterdam is indelible. After retiring, he transitioned seamlessly into a beloved media personality, his distinctive voice and candid opinions keeping him a fixture in the footballing landscape.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
John was born in 1962, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When John Was Born
The biggest hits of 1962
#1 Movie
Lawrence of Arabia
Best Picture
Lawrence of Arabia
#1 TV Show
Beverly Hillbillies
John's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1962Born
Cuban Missile Crisis brings the world to the brink
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,800Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Stranger on the Shore" — Acker BilkBest Picture: Lawrence of Arabia
1967Started school
Summer of Love in San Francisco; first Super Bowl
Gas: $0.33/galHome: $14,250Min wage: $1.40/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"To Sir, with Love" — LuluBest Picture: In the Heat of the Night
1975Became a teenager
Fall of Saigon ends the Vietnam War
Gas: $0.57/galHome: $27,600Min wage: $2.10/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Love Will Keep Us Together" — Captain & TennilleBest Picture: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
1978Could drive
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1980Could vote
John Lennon shot and killed in New York
Gas: $1.19/galHome: $47,200Min wage: $3.10/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Call Me" — BlondieBest Picture: Ordinary People
1983Turned 21
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1992Turned 30
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
2002Turned 40
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2012Turned 50
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2022Turned 60
Russia invades Ukraine; Queen Elizabeth II dies
Gas: $3.97/galHome: $348,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"As It Was" — Harry StylesBest Picture: Everything Everywhere All at Once
2026Age 64 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the Dutch Eredivisie championship with Feyenoord in the 1992–93 season.
- Lifted the KNVB Cup with Feyenoord in 1994 and 1995.
- Scored two goals in six official appearances for the Netherlands national team.
- Later became a popular football analyst and co-host on the Dutch television program 'VI'.
Did You Know?
He was known for his exceptionally long hair during his playing days, a signature part of his image.
After retirement, he became a contestant on the Dutch version of the reality show 'Expeditie Robinson' (Survivor).
He owns a café called 'Café De Wolf' in his hometown of Schoonhoven.
“I was never the most talented, but I always left everything on the pitch.”
