Mark van Bommel

Mark Peter Gertruda Andreas van Bommel (born 22 April 1977) is a Dutch football coach and former midfielder, currently managing the Belgian national team. Known as a fierce ball-winner and strong passer with a powerful shot, he was also a free-kick specialist during his time at PSV.

Van Bommel won league titles in four different countries: the Eredivisie with PSV, La Liga with Barcelona, the Bundesliga with Bayern Munich, and Serie A with Milan. Between 2000 and 2011, he collected eight national championships—four with PSV, two with Bayern, one with Barcelona, and one with Milan. He also won the 2005–06 UEFA Champions League with Barcelona and served as Bayern Munich’s first foreign captain, leading the club to two Bundesliga titles and a runner-up finish in the 2010 Champions League final.

Internationally, van Bommel earned 79 caps for the Netherlands from 2000 to 2012. He played at the 2006 World Cup, finished as runner-up at the 2010 World Cup, and appeared at Euro 2012.

His coaching career began as a youth coach and assistant to his father-in-law, Bert van Marwijk. He later managed PSV, VfL Wolfsburg, and Royal Antwerp, winning the Belgian Pro League and Belgian Cup double with Antwerp in 2022–23.

Van Bommel started his amateur career at RKVV Maasbracht before signing professionally with Fortuna Sittard in 1992, where he played alongside future PSV teammates Wilfred Bouma and Kevin Hofland.

PSV signed him in 1999, and he formed a midfield partnership with Swiss international Johann Vogel. He won four Eredivisie titles and two Johan Cruyff Shields, and was named Dutch Footballer of the Year in 2001 and 2005. In his final season, after helping PSV to the league title and a Champions League semi-final, he was expected to join his father-in-law at Borussia Dortmund but chose to stay until the end of the 2004–05 season. Following the semi-final loss to Milan and the league title secured, he confirmed in May 2005 that he would join Barcelona.

Frank Rijkaard signed van Bommel on a free transfer to strengthen his title-winning squad. Before moving, van Bommel spent the summer learning Spanish in a convent in Eindhoven. Used mainly as a holding midfielder, he rotated with Xavi, Edmílson, Andrés Iniesta, Deco, and Thiago Motta, playing 24 league matches and 12 cup games. He won La Liga and the 2005–06 Champions League, plus the 2006 Supercopa de España. Six days after that win, he joined Bayern Munich.

On 26 August 2006, Bayern Munich paid €6 million to sign van Bommel. Despite speculation linking the move to Owen Hargreaves’ transfer saga, manager Uli Hoeneß insisted the club wanted both players. Van Bommel quickly became a key player and was voted Bayern Player of the Year for 2006–07. In 2007–08, he won his first silverware with the club—a Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal double. After Oliver Kahn retired in 2008, van Bommel became Bayern’s first non-German captain. Under Louis van Gaal, he led the team to another league and cup double in 2009–10, and to the 2010 Champions League final, where they lost to Internazionale. He played 123 Bundesliga matches for Bayern.

On 25 January 2011, van Bommel signed a six-month contract with Milan on a free transfer after leaving Bayern. He debuted the next day in a Coppa Italia win over Sampdoria. In his Serie A debut against Catania, he was sent off for a second yellow card. He soon adapted, becoming a regular in Massimiliano Allegri’s squad and helping secure a 3–0 win over Napoli and a derby victory against Inter. He started in the match against Roma on 7 May 2011 that gave Milan their 18th Scudetto. Milan extended his contract for another year in May 2011, and he remained a starter in defensive midfield throughout his second season. He declined a new contract offer and left the club.

On 29 April 2012, van Bommel announced he would sign a contract with PSV, and the club confirmed the move on 14 May.