Salo Muller

Salo Muller (Amsterdam, 29 februari 1936) is een Nederlands fysiotherapeut, journalist en publicist. Hij werd vooral bekend als fysiotherapeut bij AFC Ajax.

Salo Muller was the son of Lena Blitz (Amsterdam, 20-10-1908) and Louis Muller (Amsterdam, 20-7-1903). Salo went into hiding in World War II as a Jewish child from 1942 after being rescued from the crèche in the Amsterdam Schouwburg. Both his parents perished in the Nazi extermination camp Auschwitz. About his experiences during the war years, he wrote the book 'Till tonight and be nice hear'. These were the last words his mother spoke to him when she dropped him off at nursery school.

When the war was over, he was brought back to Amsterdam by his aunt. There, as a ten-year-old, he had some adjustment problems and did not finish high school. After being expelled from the lyceum, he eventually ended up at a course for remedial gymnast/masseur. His teacher, Mr Rodenburg, was an Ajax carer and was impressed by Muller. Through Rodenburg, Muller joined Ajax as an assistant and, from 1960, as a physiotherapist. Salo Muller remained with Ajax until 1972. He witnessed the team's rise to the golden years. He was there when Ajax won the European Cup I and, in addition to being a masseur, acted as an interlocutor for all the players.

After Ajax, he focused on building up his physiotherapy practice. He was also editor-in-chief of the physiotherapy magazine Fysioscoop for 30 years and wrote two books on injuries. In 2006, he published his book Mijn Ajax, about his experiences at Ajax between 1969 and 1972. In 2007, he published Blootgeven, a book about his work as a physiotherapist. In it, Muller describes many of his special patients.

Beroep blijft boeiend

Twaalf jaar geleden heb ik ter gelegenheid van mijn 50 jaar fysiotherapeut zijn, een overzicht gemaakt van het wel en wee van ons mooie beroep. Het verdween in een la van mijn bureau. Een aantal collega’s en oud-patiënten spoorden mij aan om het toch maar weer eens tevoorschijn te halen. Heden ten dagen is een en ander natuurlijk veranderd maar de intentie is voor mij gebleven. En wellicht leuk om het toch een keer te lezen. 1 juni 2011 was het dan zover. Op die datum was ik vijftig jaar fysiotherapeut. Hoe is het allemaal begonnen? Is ons beroep veranderd? Is het nog leuk?

Overleven en doorgaan

Ik werd als ‘schrikkelkind’ geboren. 29 februari 1936, een mooi wijnjaar. Voor mijn ouders en familie was de gebeurtenis een mooi geschenk. Even een lichtpunt in een wereld die vooral in Duitsland zeer onrustig was. Voor velen zelfs beangstigend. Ik groeide op in een fijne omgeving. Eigen kamer, veel speelgoed en een vader en moeder die mij erg verwenden. Ik zou helaas geen broertje of zusje krijgen. Nee, ik zou alleen blijven. Maar dan ook echt helemaal alleen. In 1942 werden mijn ouders via Westerbork naar Auschwitz getransporteerd en daar met duizenden anderen vergast, vermoord. Ik heb de oorlog overleefd door op negen verschillende adressen te kunnen onderduiken. Ik kwam na de oorlog terug in Amsterdam als een astmatisch, klein, bang jongetje. Vier jaar achter op mijn leeftijdgenootjes. Maar het kwam uiteindelijk allemaal goed*.

Leren, kiezen, groeien

I attended Dongeschool in Amsterdam. A nice primary school where I not only learned to do maths and read, but also learned to play. Something I was never allowed or able to do during the war. This was followed by the Amsterdam Lyceum, to end up at the Second Public Trade School ( the OHS). That turned out to be a wrong choice. Not that the school wasn't good or fun, on the contrary. After all, I wanted to become a doctor. But there was no Greek and Latin in my package. So I went into 'commerce'. I received training at the well-known timber trade Ambagtsheer and van der Meulen as assistant manager. Between eighty purebred Amsterdammers in the timber port, I was well schooled. In all areas.
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Holocaust survivor

De pijnlijke jeugd van Salo is van grote invloed geweest op zijn verdere leven. “Ik had last van extreme verlatingsangst, vooral bij Europese uitwedstrijden met het gouden Ajax van Rinus Michels, Piet Keizer en Johan Cruijff.” Tot op de dag van vandaag loopt Salo rond met de vraag “Hoe heeft dit kunnen gebeuren?” Over zijn belevenissen in de oorlogsjaren schreef hij het boek See you tonight and be nice. These were the last words his mother spoke to him as she dropped him off at kindergarten. That day she was rounded up by the Germans. In the Hollandse Schouwburg, he did see them briefly after which they never returned.

Speaker

As speaker, Salo Muller frequently recounts his childhood years during the war and his later work as a physiotherapist at Ajax. Via Stichting Schoolbuurtwerk, Salo Muller gives guest lessons at schools in Amsterdam, The Hague, Rotterdam and other cities in the Netherlands in the context of remembrance and celebration. In addition, Salo Muller is affiliated as a guest speaker with the National Support Centre for Guest Speakers of WWII and connected to the Remembrance Centre Camp Westerbork (eyewitnesses in the classroom). 

Author

Salo Muller is one of those magical names from the past, from the long-forgotten days when Ajax was and could rightfully be a Jewish club. Jaap van Praag presided, Bennie Muller and Sjaak Swart paved the way to success and Salo Muller kneaded their legs. Until 1972, Muller (1936) was a physiotherapist at Ajax. After winning the European Cup (the first in a series of three), an internal conflict led to his departure. About his years at the massage table, Muller has written a book under the telling title My Ajax. About his sad memories of the occupation years, he wrote Until tonight and be nice, hear.

Voormalig Fysiotherapeut Ajax

Salo Muller remained attached to Ajax until 1972. He witnessed the rise of the team to its golden years. Salo Muller was there when Ajax won the European Cup I and, in addition to being a masseur, acted as a discussion partner for all the players. After the second European Cup win in 1972, Salo Muller clashed with Ajax over his salary and duties, and resigned from the club. He always remained a loyal supporter and was known to be proud of Ajaxb's Jewish image. Salo Muller later wrote the book My Ajax about his time at Ajax.

12

Books

400+

Lectures

13+

year as Physiotherapist at Ajax

95+

Schools

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