Johan Neeskens
Dutch football manager and former player / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Johan Neeskens (born 15 September 1951) is a former Dutch football player. He played for Netherlands national team. He is considered to be one of the greatest midfielders of his generation. He is one of the best Dutch players of all time. Neeskens was a complete and continuous player, capable of adapting to play almost anywhere on the pitch.
Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Full name | Johan Neeskens | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Date of birth | (1951-09-15) 15 September 1951 (age 72) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Place of birth | Heemstede, Netherlands | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Height | 1.72 m (5 ft 7+1⁄2 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Position(s) | Midfielder | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Senior career* | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
1968–1970 | RCH | 68 | (1) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
1970–1974 | Ajax | 124 | (33) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
1974–1979 | Barcelona | 140 | (35) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
1979–1984 | New York Cosmos | 94 | (17) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
1984–1985 | Groningen | 7 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
1985 | South Florida Sun | 1 | (1) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
1985–1986 | Kansas City Comets (indoor) | 23 | (1) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
1986–1987 | Löwenbrau (amateurs) | 13 | (5) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
1987–1990 | Baar | 23 | (5) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
1990–1991 | FC Zug | 1 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Total | 494 | (98) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
National team | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1970–1981 | Netherlands | 49 | (17) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Teams managed | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1991–1993 | FC Zug | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
1993–1995 | Stäfa | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
1995–1996 | Singen | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
1995–2000 | Netherlands (assistant manager) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
2000–2004 | NEC | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
2005–2006 | Australia (assistant manager) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
2006–2008 | Barcelona (assistant manager) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
2008–2009 | Netherlands B | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
2009–2010 | Galatasaray (assistant manager) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
2011–2012 | Mamelodi Sundowns | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Honours
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only |
He possessed remarkable athletic skills. His passes and high-precision shots enhanced the qualities of his colleagues. Neeskens perfectly expressed what Michels and Kovacs preached in the Netherlands: "a player must be complete and continuous, able to adapt to play in any area of the pitch". He was also good at heading and penalties.
His roughness came to light with the expulsion in the semi-final of the 1976 European Championships against Czechoslovakia. His determination on the pitch also made him a true leader.