Contribution by Frans Derks

Every Sunday My LinkedIn Connection Of The Week (126) Ton Fitsch. At the age of 72, he is especially looking in Spain (his current residence), Portugal, and Italy with his recruitment company (not to be confused with a temp agency), for suitable hospitality, cleaning, and production staff for Dutch and German companies. Proficiency in English is almost always a prerequisite. When we recently meet at the Golfbaan het Rijk van Nijmegen, it’s about his drive and how sitting idle behind geraniums is not for him.

Anyone who mentions the name Ton Fitsch knows that this man had an incredible (administrative) career in professional football, and beyond. From Wegener Huis-aan-huisMedia, during the heyday of De Graafschap in the time of Hans Kraay jr., Simon Kistemaker, and Anton van Kooten, he was asked to become the first commercial manager. Ensuring that business club members do not leave in a year of relegation is a bigger challenge than in times of euphoria and promotion!

Subsequently, he enters a period at Heracles Almelo where he starts as a commercial director with a bailiff as chairman with a korfball background who, so to speak, still had to learn the rules of football. Ton leaves the club as General Director. The assignment of a new stadium and a stable club in the then First Division can be ticked off. Promotion to the Eredivisie follows shortly after his departure.

A man of his word even means that he cancels a tempting group from Arnhem at the last moment. A few years later, he does bite when AGOVV wants to make the step from the top of amateur football to professional football. I know a little about what is needed in terms of paperwork, but also financial resources and connections in the football technical field. Even when a documentary is made about this step and when people within the club think they know better despite all the knowledge and effort.

Vitesse Arnhem has not forgotten his qualities and is the next stop where he is active as a Commercial Director for several years. Until his body protests. The step back to amateur football does not bring what was expected beforehand, but his resilience and a good dose of new energy make him a happy and driven entrepreneur again. Under the Spanish sun, his connections in the business world, in which he has invested his whole life, come in very handy. Respect Ton, I know where to find you! #recruitment #selection #hospitality #production #motivatedforeigners #entrepreneurquestion #mediation #solution