Ronald Koeman
Ronald Koeman is a Dutch retired footballer who has been manager of the Netherlands National Football Team.
He is the younger brother of his former international teammate Erwin Koeman and the son of former Dutch international Martin Koeman. A composed player on the ball, Koeman was capable of being deployed both as a defender and as a midfielder, and he frequently played as a sweeper, due to his vision and his ability on the ball. Regarded as one of the best and most prolific attacking central defenders of all time, Koeman was renowned for his long-range passing, as well as his shooting accuracy and power from distance, especially on free kicks, and is the top scoring defender in world football. He was also an accurate penalty kick taker.
At international level, Koeman was one of the stars of the Netherlands National Football Team, alongside Marco van Basten, Ruud Gullit, Frank Rijkaard and Dennis Bergkamp. During his career with the Netherlands, Koeman won UEFA Euro 1988 (1988) and played at the UEFA Euro 1992 (1992), 1990 FIFA World Cup (1990) and 1994 FIFA World Cup (1994), captaining the team at the latter.
Born in Zaandam, Koeman began his career at FC Groningen before transferring to the Netherlands' most successful club AFC Ajax, where he won the national Eredivise title in 1984-85. He then joined Ajax's rivals PSV Eindhoven winning three consecutive Eredivisie titles (1986-87, 1987-88 and 1988-89) and the European Cup in 1988. Ronald Koeman is one of five European players to ever win a Treble with their club and a cup with their national team in the same year. In 1989, Koeman moved to FC Barcelona and became part of Johan Cruijff's 'Dream Team', helping the club win La Liga four years in a row between 1991 - 1994, and the European Cup, where he scored the winning goal of the final against U.C. Sampdoria in 1992.
As a head coach, Koeman has won three Eredivisie titles: twice with Ajax (2001-02 and 2003-04) and once with PSV (2006-07). He is the only individual to have both played for and managed the "Big Three" of Dutch football: AFC Ajax, PSV Eindhoven and Feyenoord. Abroad, he had spells in Portugal with S.L. Benfica and in Spain with Valencia C.F., coaching Los Che to victory in the 2007-08 Copa del Rey, and managed Premier League clubs Southampton F.C. and Everton F.C. in the 2010s.
He is the younger brother of his former international teammate Erwin Koeman and the son of former Dutch international Martin Koeman. A composed player on the ball, Koeman was capable of being deployed both as a defender and as a midfielder, and he frequently played as a sweeper, due to his vision and his ability on the ball. Regarded as one of the best and most prolific attacking central defenders of all time, Koeman was renowned for his long-range passing, as well as his shooting accuracy and power from distance, especially on free kicks, and is the top scoring defender in world football. He was also an accurate penalty kick taker.
At international level, Koeman was one of the stars of the Netherlands National Football Team, alongside Marco van Basten, Ruud Gullit, Frank Rijkaard and Dennis Bergkamp. During his career with the Netherlands, Koeman won UEFA Euro 1988 (1988) and played at the UEFA Euro 1992 (1992), 1990 FIFA World Cup (1990) and 1994 FIFA World Cup (1994), captaining the team at the latter.
Born in Zaandam, Koeman began his career at FC Groningen before transferring to the Netherlands' most successful club AFC Ajax, where he won the national Eredivise title in 1984-85. He then joined Ajax's rivals PSV Eindhoven winning three consecutive Eredivisie titles (1986-87, 1987-88 and 1988-89) and the European Cup in 1988. Ronald Koeman is one of five European players to ever win a Treble with their club and a cup with their national team in the same year. In 1989, Koeman moved to FC Barcelona and became part of Johan Cruijff's 'Dream Team', helping the club win La Liga four years in a row between 1991 - 1994, and the European Cup, where he scored the winning goal of the final against U.C. Sampdoria in 1992.
As a head coach, Koeman has won three Eredivisie titles: twice with Ajax (2001-02 and 2003-04) and once with PSV (2006-07). He is the only individual to have both played for and managed the "Big Three" of Dutch football: AFC Ajax, PSV Eindhoven and Feyenoord. Abroad, he had spells in Portugal with S.L. Benfica and in Spain with Valencia C.F., coaching Los Che to victory in the 2007-08 Copa del Rey, and managed Premier League clubs Southampton F.C. and Everton F.C. in the 2010s.
