Joop Odenthal
Johannes Bernardus "Joop" Odenthal was a Dutch footballer, baseball player and football manager. He competed in the men's tournament at the 1952 Summer Olympics, representing the Netherlands.
Career
Football
Odenthal played for EDO, Haarlem, SC Enschede, and Tubantia. Born in Haarlem, his move from EDO to in-city rival HFC Haarlem was hugely unpopular among fans. After a move to Enschede, he continued his football career with the two main Hoofdklasse clubs from that city. Between 1951 and 1956, he made 24 appearances for the Netherlands national team. He made his international debut against Finland in 1951. After his active sports career, Odenthal for a long time coached both baseball players and footballers at in Hengelo. He also coached the senior team of Quick '20. Odenthal, together with Henk Schijvenaar and Cor Wilders, remains one of the only athletes competing for both the Netherlands football team and baseball team.
Baseball
Odenthal also played baseball between 1946 and 1954 for Haarlem Hoofdklasse club EDO, where he was a shortstop and third baseman. In 1948 and 1949, he appeared twice for the Netherlands national [baseball team] during the international matches against Belgium.
Odenthal died on 19 January 2005. Odenthal is the grandfather of Cas Odenthal, who has played football in the Eredivisie and Serie A in Italy.