In 1942, Bram Appel was deported to Germany as a labourer, but his football talents allowed him to play at Berlin side Hertha BSC. His appearances cost him a suspension upon return to the Netherlands, and Appel played for minor teams in Limburg. His frequent goals earned him a call-up as a late replacement for the 1948 Olympics. Scoring twice in London, he attracted attention of foreign professional clubs and joined Stade de Reims (France) in 1949. He won the French Cup (1950) and French Championship (1953) and netted 96 goals, and was one of the organisers of a charity match after the 1953 floodings in the Netherlands. Dutch professional players, who were not allowed on the national team, beat the French national team by 2-1, paving the way for professional football in the Netherlands. With the arrival of a pro league in his home country, Appel returned to play for Fortuna ‘54, and won an additional 11 caps, scoring 8 times. After retiring as a player, Appel became a manager, and led Eindhoven side PSV to the Dutch title in 1963.
Netherlands