Cornelis August Wilhelm Hirschman facts for kids

Cornelis August Wilhelm Hirschman (born February 16, 1877 – died June 26, 1951) was a Dutch banker. He is often known as Carl Anton Wilhelm Hirschman. He played a very important role in the early history of FIFA. FIFA is the international organization that manages football (soccer) around the world.

Hirschman helped create FIFA in 1904. He then became its second General Secretary in 1906. He served in this important role until 1931. In 1912, he also helped start the Dutch Olympic Committee (NOC). This committee helps Dutch athletes compete in the Olympic Games.

Saving FIFA During Tough Times

Carl Hirschman was crucial in keeping FIFA alive. This was especially true during and after World War I. The first FIFA president, Daniel Burley Woolfall, passed away in 1918. At that time, FIFA faced many challenges.

Keeping Football United

Many countries were recovering from the war. It was hard for them to focus on international sports. Hirschman worked almost alone to keep FIFA going. He even used his own money to support the organization. He ran FIFA from his offices in Amsterdam.

Interim President Role

Because there was no president, Hirschman acted as FIFA's interim president. He led the organization during this difficult period. He continued in this role until March 1921. That's when Jules Rimet was elected as FIFA's third president. Hirschman's efforts helped ensure FIFA did not fall apart. This allowed international football to continue growing after the war.

Later Years and Resignation

Carl Hirschman's career faced a major challenge in 1929. This was due to a big financial crisis.

The 1929 Financial Crisis

In 1929, there was a huge economic downturn. It was known as the Crash of 1929. This event caused many businesses to struggle. Hirschman's own stock trading company went bankrupt. This meant it lost all its money.

Impact on FIFA and NOC

Sadly, much of the money he had invested for the NOC and FIFA was also lost. Because of these financial problems, Hirschman made a difficult decision. He unexpectedly resigned from both the Dutch Olympic Committee and FIFA in 1931. His work, however, left a lasting impact on both organizations.

See also

• United Passions, a 2014 film. In this movie, Fisher Stevens plays Carl Hirschman.