Dutch soccer player and manager Frans de Munck (1922-2010) was also a one-time film star. In 1958, the goalkeeper was with his club, DOS, the champion of the Netherlands. 'The Black Panther' also played for Fortuna '54, VV Goes, Sittard Boys, FC Köln, Veendam and SC Cambuur. The handsome De Munck appeared in a German film, and he gave a legendary kiss to Jayne Mansfield.
German postcard by Kunst und Bild, Berlin, no. A 1012. Photo: Arthur Grimm / BBF / Nordfilm / Allianz Film. Publicity still for Das ideale Brautpaar / The perfect couple (Robert A. Stemmle, 1954).
Soccer player Frans de Munck was born in 1922. He was a goalkeeper at several soccer clubs, including VV Goes, the German FC Köln, BV Veendam and SC Cambuur.
'The Black Panther' played 31 matches for the Dutch national team. In 1949, he made his international debut in a friendly game against France. 'Orange' won it, 4-1.
De Munck acquired his nickname 'The Black Panther' because of his legendary charismatic appearance - his striking black hair and trademark black shirt - and his cat-like reflexes.
In March 1953, De Munck took part in the famous 'flood event' between France and the Dutch national team in Paris. That event was intended to collect money for victims of the disastrous floods which had hit the southern Netherlands earlier that year and in which more than 1,800 people were killed.
Orange went to Paris with a team consisting of professionals who worked abroad. At the time, soccer was an amateur game in the Netherlands, and the 1953 charity international is seen as one of the catalysts which led to professional Dutch football. The match ended 2-1 for Holland. Just one year later, the first professional soccer match was played in the Netherlands.
Dutch postcard by Art Unlimited, Amsterdam, no. A 10573. Photo: Ben van Meerendonk. In 1957, Jayne Mansfield made a legendary promotional visit to the Netherlands. The film she promoted, Kiss Them for Me (Stanley Donen, 1957), was quickly forgotten, but forty years later her visit was dearly remembered with an exhibition, a book and a TV documentary. Jayne shocked the nation while showing her voluptuous figure in a tight sweater and doing her interviews with her lisp, breathless voice. During her visit, photographers went wild. A highlight was her visit to the Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf, where she posed near the presses and at the table of the editors.
In the early fifties, when soccer was still seen as an amateur sport in the Netherlands, Frans de Munck was suspended for one year by the KNVB (Royal Dutch Soccer Union) because he had money from his club Sittard Boys. De Munck then went to the German club FC Köln, and he became very popular in Germany. He was called 'Der erste Star' (The First Star), a David Beckham avant la lettre.
The handsome goalkeeper even appeared in the film Das ideale Brautpaar / The Perfect Couple (Robert A. Stemmle, 1954), a romantic comedy starring Ingeborg Körner and Peter Mosbacher. De Munck played a famous keeper, Jürgen Busse. He returned to the Netherlands and played between 1954 and 1957 for Fortuna '54 and from 1957 till 1961 for DOS in Utrecht.
In 1957, famous Hollywood star Jayne Mansfield visited the Netherlands for a publicity tour. The Black Panther was the only DOS player who was allowed to kiss the platinum blonde bombshell for the kickoff of the match, Sparta - DOS. The kiss created quite a stir in the Lowlands. Years later, De Munck told about The Kiss: "And I was not even captain of DOS!"
After his active football career, Frans de Munck worked from 1966 to 1974 as a coach at Vitesse in the Netherlands, and at Club Brugge and Lierse SK in Belgium.
In 2010, Frans de Munck passed away in Arnhem, The Netherlands. He was 88.
German postcard by Ufa/Film-Foto, Berlin-Tempelhof, no. FK 749. Photo: Arthur Grimm / BBF (Berliner Bühne und Film) / Allianz Film. Publicity still for Das ideale Brautpaar / The Perfect Couple (Robert A. Stemmle, 1954).
Sources: Renate Verhoofstad (AD) (Dutch), Volkskrant (Dutch), Voortschrijdende Inzichten (Now defunct), RNW, Wikipedia (Dutch and English) and IMDb.
This post was last updated on 25 November 2025.
German postcard by Kunst und Bild, Berlin, no. A 1012. Photo: Arthur Grimm / BBF / Nordfilm / Allianz Film. Publicity still for Das ideale Brautpaar / The perfect couple (Robert A. Stemmle, 1954).
Cat-like reflexes
Soccer player Frans de Munck was born in 1922. He was a goalkeeper at several soccer clubs, including VV Goes, the German FC Köln, BV Veendam and SC Cambuur.
'The Black Panther' played 31 matches for the Dutch national team. In 1949, he made his international debut in a friendly game against France. 'Orange' won it, 4-1.
De Munck acquired his nickname 'The Black Panther' because of his legendary charismatic appearance - his striking black hair and trademark black shirt - and his cat-like reflexes.
In March 1953, De Munck took part in the famous 'flood event' between France and the Dutch national team in Paris. That event was intended to collect money for victims of the disastrous floods which had hit the southern Netherlands earlier that year and in which more than 1,800 people were killed.
Orange went to Paris with a team consisting of professionals who worked abroad. At the time, soccer was an amateur game in the Netherlands, and the 1953 charity international is seen as one of the catalysts which led to professional Dutch football. The match ended 2-1 for Holland. Just one year later, the first professional soccer match was played in the Netherlands.
Dutch postcard by Art Unlimited, Amsterdam, no. A 10573. Photo: Ben van Meerendonk. In 1957, Jayne Mansfield made a legendary promotional visit to the Netherlands. The film she promoted, Kiss Them for Me (Stanley Donen, 1957), was quickly forgotten, but forty years later her visit was dearly remembered with an exhibition, a book and a TV documentary. Jayne shocked the nation while showing her voluptuous figure in a tight sweater and doing her interviews with her lisp, breathless voice. During her visit, photographers went wild. A highlight was her visit to the Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf, where she posed near the presses and at the table of the editors.
A sensational kiss
In the early fifties, when soccer was still seen as an amateur sport in the Netherlands, Frans de Munck was suspended for one year by the KNVB (Royal Dutch Soccer Union) because he had money from his club Sittard Boys. De Munck then went to the German club FC Köln, and he became very popular in Germany. He was called 'Der erste Star' (The First Star), a David Beckham avant la lettre.
The handsome goalkeeper even appeared in the film Das ideale Brautpaar / The Perfect Couple (Robert A. Stemmle, 1954), a romantic comedy starring Ingeborg Körner and Peter Mosbacher. De Munck played a famous keeper, Jürgen Busse. He returned to the Netherlands and played between 1954 and 1957 for Fortuna '54 and from 1957 till 1961 for DOS in Utrecht.
In 1957, famous Hollywood star Jayne Mansfield visited the Netherlands for a publicity tour. The Black Panther was the only DOS player who was allowed to kiss the platinum blonde bombshell for the kickoff of the match, Sparta - DOS. The kiss created quite a stir in the Lowlands. Years later, De Munck told about The Kiss: "And I was not even captain of DOS!"
After his active football career, Frans de Munck worked from 1966 to 1974 as a coach at Vitesse in the Netherlands, and at Club Brugge and Lierse SK in Belgium.
In 2010, Frans de Munck passed away in Arnhem, The Netherlands. He was 88.
German postcard by Ufa/Film-Foto, Berlin-Tempelhof, no. FK 749. Photo: Arthur Grimm / BBF (Berliner Bühne und Film) / Allianz Film. Publicity still for Das ideale Brautpaar / The Perfect Couple (Robert A. Stemmle, 1954).
Sources: Renate Verhoofstad (AD) (Dutch), Volkskrant (Dutch), Voortschrijdende Inzichten (Now defunct), RNW, Wikipedia (Dutch and English) and IMDb.
This post was last updated on 25 November 2025.
3 comments:
The last picture is great!
Merry Christmas.
Thanks for sharing.
Happy PFF.
Howdy Bob
Oh how wonderful to visit you and all the other postcard collectors again.
Thank you for all the fantastic information on the most amazing people you have gathered this past year.
It is such a joy to come by for a visit and leave with so much new appreciation for artists the world over.Thank you for sharing .
Merry Christmas to you and a blessed New Year .
Take care now.
Until next time
Happy Trails
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