Bert van Marwijk
UEFA Cup winner with Feyenoord and Dutch World Cup finalist manager.
Bert van Marwijk is a Dutch football manager and former player, born 19 May 1952 in Deventer, Overijssel. He is currently a member of the supervisory board for MVV Maastricht. As a player, he appeared for Go Ahead Eagles, AZ, MVV, Fortuna Sittard, and Belgian club Assent, earning one cap for the Netherlands in 1975. As a manager, he won the UEFA Cup with Feyenoord in 2002 and the KNVB Cup with Feyenoord in 2008. He managed the Netherlands from 2008 to 2012, leading them to the 2010 FIFA World Cup final (lost 1–0 to Spain) and resigning after losing all three matches at UEFA Euro 2012. He also coached Saudi Arabia to 2018 World Cup qualification, then coached Australia during that tournament.
Quick Facts
- Full name
- Lambertus van Marwijk
- Born
- 19 May 1952
- Birthplace
- Deventer, Netherlands
- Height
- 1.81 m / 5 ft 11 in
- Position
- Midfielder
- Current club
- MVV Maastricht (supervisory board member)
- Total caps
- 468
- Total goals
- 72
Lore & Background
Van Marwijk's managerial career began at Fortuna Sittard, where he finished seventh in the Eredivisie in 1998 and reached the KNVB Cup final in 1999. In 2000, he took over Feyenoord and led them to second place in his first season. The 2001–02 season brought his biggest success: after beating SC Freiburg, Rangers, PSV, and Internazionale in the knockout stage, Feyenoord won the UEFA Cup final 3–2 against Borussia Dortmund. He extended his contract in October 2002 until summer 2004, with an option for another year.
Feyenoord finished third in the league in 2001–02, 2002–03, and 2003–04. After spells at Borussia Dortmund and a return to Feyenoord (winning the 2008 KNVB Cup 2–0 against Roda JC), he became Netherlands head coach. At the 2010 World Cup, the Dutch beat Slovakia, Brazil, and Uruguay before losing the final 1–0 in extra time to Spain. He opted for a very hard style of play, especially in the final, in strong contrast with Dutch tradition. After Euro 2012 (three losses, no points), he resigned on 27 June 2012.
Reader's Guide
His 2001–02 UEFA Cup run featured a 3–2 final win over Borussia Dortmund, with key knockout victories against Rangers, PSV, and Internazionale. He won the KNVB Cup in 2008 with Feyenoord, beating Roda JC 2–0. With the Netherlands, he guided the team to the 2010 World Cup final, defeating Slovakia (round of 16), Brazil (quarterfinals), and Uruguay (semifinals) before losing 1–0 to Spain in extra time. After Euro 2012 (three losses, no points), he resigned. Later, he qualified Saudi Arabia for the 2018 World Cup but left before the tournament, then coached Australia during the 2018 World Cup (one draw, two losses, eliminated in group stage).
Did You Know?
- Van Marwijk won the Klaverjas world championship in 1975.
- His daughter Andra married Dutch international Mark van Bommel; their sons Thomas and Ruben van Bommel debuted professionally with MVV Maastricht in the early 2020s.
- He was knighted in the Order of Orange-Nassau in 2010.
- Van Marwijk's only cap for the Netherlands came in a 1975 friendly against Yugoslavia, called up by Rinus Michels.
- He lasted only 143 days as head coach of Hamburger SV in 2013–14.
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