kids encyclopedia robot

Erwin Koeman facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Erwin Koeman
Erwin-koeman.jpg
Koeman in 2011
Personal information
Full name Erwin Koeman
Date of birth (1961-09-20) 20 September 1961 (age 63)
Place of birth Zaandam, Netherlands
Height 1.80 m
Playing position Midfielder
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1978–1979 Groningen 6 (0)
1979–1982 PSV 43 (8)
1982–1985 Groningen 89 (39)
1985–1990 Mechelen 116 (22)
1990–1994 PSV 104 (14)
1994–1998 Groningen 115 (10)
Total 472 (92)
National team
1983–1994 Netherlands 31 (2)
Teams managed
2004–2005 RKC Waalwijk
2005–2007 Feyenoord
2008–2010 Hungary
2011 Utrecht
2012 Eindhoven
2012–2014 RKC Waalwijk
2018 Fenerbahçe (caretaker)
2019 Oman
2021 Beitar Jerusalem
Honours
Representing  Netherlands
Men's football
UEFA European Championship
Winner 1988
  • Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.
† Appearances (Goals).

Erwin Koeman (born 20 September 1961) is a famous Dutch former professional football player. He used to play as a midfielder. Today, he works as an assistant coach for the Dutch national team.

Erwin played for several clubs, including Groningen and PSV Eindhoven. He also won important trophies in Belgium with Mechelen. He played 31 games for the Netherlands national team between 1983 and 1994. He was part of the team that won the UEFA Euro 1988 championship and played in the 1990 FIFA World Cup.

After his playing career, Koeman became a football manager. He coached teams like Feyenoord, RKC Waalwijk, and Utrecht in the Netherlands. He also managed the national teams of Hungary and Oman. He even worked as an assistant coach with his younger brother, Ronald Koeman, at clubs like Southampton and Everton.

Meet Erwin Koeman: A Football Legend

His Football Family

Erwin Koeman was born in Zaanstad, Netherlands. His father, Martin Koeman, was also a Dutch international footballer. Erwin is the older brother of Ronald Koeman, who is also a well-known former player and manager. It's amazing because all three Koemans – Martin, Erwin, and Ronald – played for Groningen at some point in their careers!

Erwin's son, Len, played for the Helmond Sport youth team. However, he did not become a professional player. In 2021, a special statue of the three Koemans was put up at Groningen's Euroborg stadium. This shows how important their family is to Dutch football history.

Playing Days: A Midfielder's Journey

Erwin Koeman (1983)
Koeman training with the Dutch national team in 1983.

Erwin Koeman was a talented midfielder. He played for different clubs during his career. He had three different periods playing for Groningen. He also played two times for PSV Eindhoven.

Winning Trophies in Belgium and Netherlands

One of his most successful times was with Mechelen in Belgium. There, he helped the team win the Belgian League in 1989. They also won the Cup Winners' Cup in 1988. This was a very successful time for the club.

Later, at PSV, he helped his team become league champions twice. They won in the 1990–91 and 1991–92 seasons. In April 1983, Erwin and his brother Ronald played their first game for the Netherlands national football team. It was a friendly match against Sweden in Utrecht.

Coaching Career: Leading Teams

After he stopped playing, Erwin Koeman started a new career as a coach. He first became a youth coach at PSV in 1998.

Starting Out as a Coach

In October 2001, he became an assistant manager at PSV. Then, for the 2004–05 season, he became the main manager for RKC Waalwijk. After one season there, he moved to Feyenoord. He coached Feyenoord until May 2007, when he decided to leave.

Coaching National Teams: Hungary and Oman

On 24 April 2008, Koeman became the coach of the Hungary national football team. His first game was a 3–2 win against European champions Greece. This was a big win because Greece had not lost in a long time. However, Hungary did not qualify for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Koeman left the role in July 2010.

In February 2019, Koeman took on another national team job. He became the head coach of the Oman. He signed a two-year deal. His goal was to help Oman qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. He started well with a 5–0 win against Afghanistan. But he was fired in December after the team did not do well in a regional tournament.

Coaching Clubs in the Netherlands

Before the 2011–12 season, Koeman became the new manager of Utrecht. He signed a one-year deal. But he resigned in October 2011 due to disagreements with the club.

In March 2012, Koeman was hired by FC Eindhoven. After a short time there, he returned to RKC Waalwijk for a second time. This second period ended in May 2014 when the team was moved down to a lower league.

Working with Brother Ronald

On 16 June 2014, Erwin Koeman became an assistant coach to his brother Ronald. They worked together at the English Premier League team Southampton. Two years later, they both moved to Everton in the same league. Ronald Koeman was dismissed from Everton in October 2017, and Erwin left with him.

Recent Coaching Adventures

In August 2018, Koeman became an assistant coach at Fenerbahçe in Turkey. When the main coach was dismissed, Erwin became the temporary manager. He helped the team reach the knockout stages of the UEFA Europa League.

In June 2021, Koeman was appointed manager of Beitar Jerusalem in Israel. He resigned six months later. In May 2022, it was announced that Koeman would become an assistant coach for the Dutch national team again. He started this role in January 2023, working with his brother Ronald once more.

Erwin Koeman's Trophies and Awards

KV Mechelen

PSV

Netherlands

kids search engine
Erwin Koeman Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.