Ronald Koeman
Sunday, July 1, 2018
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Date of birth: 21 March 1963
Nationality: Dutch
Playing career: Groningen, Ajax, PSV Eindhoven, Barcelona, Feyenoord
Coaching career: Netherlands (assistant), Barcelona (assistant), Vitesse, Ajax, Benfica, PSV Eindhoven, Valencia, AZ Alkmaar, Feyenoord, Southampton, Everton, Netherlands
• One of the classiest ball-playing defenders in history, Ronald Koeman was also a frequent goalscorer, mostly from free-kicks and penalties. He began his career at Groningen before spending three seasons apiece at Ajax and PSV.
• The 1987/88 season was one of extraordinary achievement for the blond right-footer, who collected the Dutch domestic double as well as the European Cup with PSV and then proved an equally inspirational figure with the Netherlands at EURO '88, where they captured their only major international trophy to date.
• Koeman subsequently shone during a six-year spell at Barcelona – during which he played at three further tournaments for the Oranje, ending up with 78 caps and 14 goals. The highlight of his time in Catalonia was his winning goal in the 1992 European Cup final against Sampdoria at Wembley, giving Barça their first continental crown. He also won four Liga titles with the club.
• After ending his playing days at Feyenoord, Koeman took on assistant coach roles with the Netherlands then Barcelona before branching out on his own at the turn of the millennium and embarking on what would be a highly eventful coaching career. Having played for each of the Netherlands' big three clubs he became the first man to coach all three as well, winning two titles with Ajax, one with PSV and reinvigorating Feyenoord during a productive tenure from 2011 to 2014.
• He departed Rotterdam to pursue his career in England, firstly with Southampton, then Everton, with whom he parted company in October 2017. The following February he was appointed as the Netherlands' Bondscoach on a contract taking him through to the 2022 FIFA World Cup and led the Oranje to the inaugural UEFA Nations League Finals ahead of France and Germany, seeing off England in the semi-finals only to lose to hosts Portugal in the decider.