Willem de Vries was born on October 20, 1942, in Enschede, the Netherlands. He began his football journey in the youth ranks of Enschedese Boys and made his debut for their senior team at a young age. When Enschedese Boys and Sportclub Enschede merged to form FC Twente in April 1965, he became the first player to sign a professional contract with the newly established club. His salary at the time was around €3,500 per year, plus small bonuses for training sessions and earned points. On August 22, 1965, he made his official debut in a match against Telstar, marking the beginning of a decade-long career at Twente.

Over ten seasons, from 1965 to 1975, De Vries became one of FC Twente’s most reliable and consistent defenders, amassing around 289 Eredivisie appearances, alongside numerous domestic and European cup matches. He was a key part of the legendary defense that, during the 1971–72 season, conceded just 13 goals in 34 matches — a Dutch league record for fewest goals allowed in a single season that still stands today

On the pitch, De Vries — nicknamed “IJzeren Willem” (“Iron Willem”) — was known for his smart positioning, clean tackling, and quiet leadership. Though not particularly very tall or physically imposing, he excelled through tactical discipline and strong anticipation. He often played as a central defender or "vorstopper", organizing the backline with reliability and calmness

Although he was called up to the Dutch under-19 national team during his youth, a serious knee injury ultimately prevented him from making it to the senior national side. After retiring in 1975, having played around 350 official matches for FC Twente, he gradually stepped away from professional football. Returning to Enschede, he worked part-time in construction and occasionally contributed as a sports reporter for newspapers like De Telegraaf.

Other Links:
Willem de Vries is the very first player with a contract - 60 years of FC Twente | 1Twente.nl | Dutch
WIllem de Vries (1942) | Kentudezenog.nl | Dutch
Podcast 'Since 1965' – How it all started with the 'Nacht van Vrieler' | FCTwente.nl | Dutch
Willem de Vries - Career Stats | fctwentestatistieken.nl | Dutch
Willem de Vries - Player Profile | Transfermarkt | English

Videos:
1968 - FC Twente 5 - 1 Ajax | De Vries is marking Cruyff at 0:33 | 0:47 a long throw |
FOX Sports DOC: De mooiste zondag in het Diekman
03/09/1973 | FC Amsterdam 2 - 3 FC Twente | De Vries is n° 1 | Twente plays in blue
Feyenoord 3 - 2 FC Twente (05-05-1974) | Highlights | De Vries is n° 1 and gives an assist at 5:00 | At 5:48 he is disputing a ball in the air |