Wim Jonk

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Jonk started his career at amateur club RKAV Volendam before signing for Volendam in 1986. He helped the club achieve promotion to the Eredivisie in 1987. Ajax signed him in 1988. He helped Ajax to the 1992 UEFA Cup Final, in which he scored to help them overcome Torino. He signed for Inter Milan in 1993, costing £3.3 million, and scored in the 1994 UEFA Cup Final as Inter won. He later played for PSV and Sheffield Wednesday. He made his international debut on 27 May 1992 against Austria and scored goals at the 1994 World Cup against Saudi Arabia and the Republic of Ireland. After playing, he worked as a pundit, then as board member for technical affairs at Volendam, and later at Ajax until December 2015. He co-manages Cruyff Football with Jordi Cruyff. He became manager of Volendam in April 2019, led them to the top flight in 2022, and moved to technical manager in June 2023.

In Their Own Story

Jonk's international career was marked by consistent selection for major tournaments between 1992 and 1998. He made his debut on 27 May 1992 as a substitute in a 3–2 friendly win against Austria, coming on in the 75th minute for Richard Witschge. That same year, he was selected for UEFA Euro 1992, playing only in the first group match against Scotland where he replaced Jan Wouters in the 54th minute of a 1–0 victory. At the 1994 FIFA World Cup in the United States under manager Dick Advocaat, Jonk played a pivotal role, scoring the equaliser in a 2–1 group win over Saudi Arabia and netting another long-range goal against the Republic of Ireland in the last 16. Although he was overlooked for UEFA Euro 1996 while at PSV, Guus Hiddink selected him for the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France. There, Jonk played five out of seven games as the Netherlands finished fourth. His final international appearance came on 18 August 1999 under new manager Frank Rijkaard in a friendly against Denmark.

Reader's Guide

Jonk is a former midfielder known for scoring from midfield. He won the UEFA Cup with Ajax in 1992 and with Inter Milan in 1994. He scored in the 1992 UEFA Cup Final (though the source does not specify if the goal was in the final itself or earlier in the tournament) and in the 1994 final. He earned 49 caps and 11 goals for the Netherlands. As a manager, he led Volendam to promotion to the Eredivisie in 2022.

Did You Know?

• Jonk scored a long-range goal in the 1994 World Cup last-16 win against the Republic of Ireland.
• He was the only one of his Dutch contemporaries to make the sign of the cross while playing.
• Jonk and his wife Gina lived in Dore, South Yorkshire during his time at Sheffield Wednesday.