Heerenveen mourns the loss of former player Jerry de Jong, who passed away at the age of 61. The KNVB has confirmed the news. Jerry de Jong, the father of Nigel de Jong, played fifty matches for SC Heerenveen between 1987 and 1989. He was a key defender and formed a successful trio with Winnie Haatrecht and Stanley McDonald. In 1989, he was named Player of the Year, highlighting his impact on the club. In addition to his time at Heerenveen, he played for clubs such as PSV and FC Groningen, and had a brief stint in France with SM Caen. De Jong ended his professional career in 2001 and also represented the Netherlands national team three times. His son, Nigel de Jong, is currently the director of top football at the KNVB and was recently present at the Netherlands' World Cup match against Japan. The memories of Jerry de Jong will always live on within the Heerenveen family.