Johan Neeskens facts for kids
Neeskens in 1974
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| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | 15 September 1951 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Heemstede, Netherlands | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of death | 7 October 2024 (aged 73) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of death | Algeria | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.78 m | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Playing position | 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) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1987–1990 | Baar | 23 | (5) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1990–1991 | FC Zug | 1 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 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 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Honours
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Johannes Jacobus "Johan" Neeskens (born 15 September 1951 – died 6 October 2024) was a famous Dutch football player and manager. He was a talented midfielder and a key part of the Netherlands national team. This team reached the finals of the 1974 and 1978 FIFA World Cups. Many people think he was one of the best midfielders ever. In 2004, he was even named one of the 125 greatest living footballers by FIFA.
After he stopped playing in 1991, Neeskens became a coach. He worked as an assistant manager for the Dutch and Australian national teams. He also helped coach Barcelona and Galatasaray. Later, he became the head coach for teams like NEC Nijmegen and Mamelodi Sundowns.
Contents
Playing for Clubs: A Football Journey
Neeskens started his football career in 1968 at a club called Racing Club Heemstede. Soon, a famous coach named Rinus Michels noticed him. In 1970, Neeskens joined Ajax, one of the biggest clubs in the Netherlands.
Success at Ajax
At Ajax, Neeskens first played as a right-back. He helped Ajax win the European Cup in 1971. This was a very important tournament for European clubs. Later, he moved to a central midfield role. He was great in this new position because he ran a lot and had excellent skills. He also scored many goals. Ajax won the European Cup three times in a row, from 1971 to 1973, with Neeskens on the team.
Moving to Barcelona and Beyond
In 1974, Neeskens moved to FC Barcelona in Spain. He joined his former teammates Johan Cruyff and coach Rinus Michels there. Fans at Barcelona called him Johan Segon, which means Johan the Second. While at Barcelona, the team won the Spanish Cup in 1978 and the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1979. Fans loved him very much.
After Barcelona, Neeskens played for the New York Cosmos in the United States for five years. He also played for FC Groningen in the Netherlands. He later played for smaller clubs like South Florida Sun and the Kansas City Comets. He finally stopped playing football in 1991 after playing for FC Baar and FC Zug in Switzerland.
Playing for His Country: The Netherlands
Johan Neeskens played 49 games for the Netherlands national team and scored 17 goals. His first game was in 1970 against East Germany. He was a very important player in the 1974 and 1978 FIFA World Cups.
World Cup Finals
In the 1974 World Cup final against West Germany, Neeskens scored the first goal from a penalty kick. This happened just two minutes into the game! However, the Netherlands lost that final.
Four years later, in the 1978 World Cup, Neeskens was still a key player. Even without Johan Cruyff, who had stopped playing for the national team, the Netherlands reached the final again. But they lost once more, this time to Argentina. Neeskens played his last international game in 1981.
Coaching Career: Sharing His Knowledge
After retiring as a player, Neeskens became a football coach. He often worked as an assistant manager, helping other famous coaches.
Assistant Manager Roles
He was an assistant to Guus Hiddink for the Netherlands national team during the 1998 FIFA World Cup. He also worked with Frank Rijkaard for the Netherlands team during Euro 2000. Later, he joined Hiddink again as an assistant coach for the Australia national team for the 2006 FIFA World Cup. After that, he returned to FC Barcelona to assist Rijkaard again. In 2009, he followed Rijkaard to Galatasaray in Turkey.
Head Coach Roles
Neeskens also had jobs as a head coach. From 2000 to 2004, he coached the Dutch team NEC Nijmegen. He helped them play in a European competition for the first time in 20 years. In 2011, he became the coach of the South African club Mamelodi Sundowns F.C.. He left the club in December 2012.
How He Played: A True Box-to-Box Midfielder
Neeskens was known as a "steel-hard midfielder." He ran tirelessly during games and had great technical skills. He also scored goals, which helped his teammate Johan Cruyff shine even more.
He was a "box-to-box midfielder" because he could play well in both defense and attack. He had amazing energy and a strong shot. He was excellent at putting pressure on opponents to win the ball back. His teammate Sjaak Swart once said, "He was worth two men in midfield." Neeskens was also able to play as a defender or even as a forward when needed.
Personal Life
Johan Neeskens had four children with his wife, Marlis von Reding, who was from Switzerland.
Neeskens passed away in Algeria on 6 October 2024, at the age of 73.
Honours and Achievements
Johan Neeskens won many titles during his playing career with different clubs and his national team.
With Ajax
- Eredivisie (Dutch League): 1971–72, 1972–73
- KNVB Cup (Dutch Cup): 1970–71, 1971–72
- European Cup: 1970–71, 1971–72, 1972–73 (three times in a row!)
- Intercontinental Cup: 1972
- European Super Cup: 1972, 1973
With Barcelona
- Copa del Rey (Spanish Cup): 1977–78
- European Cup Winners' Cup: 1978–79
With New York Cosmos
- North American Soccer League: 1980, 1982
With the Netherlands National Team
- FIFA World Cup runner-up: 1974, 1978
- UEFA European Championship third place: 1976
Individual Awards
- 1974 FIFA World Cup Silver Boot (meaning he was one of the top goal scorers)
- 1974 FIFA World Cup All-Star Team (chosen as one of the best players of the tournament)
- Don Balón Award (Best Foreign Player in La Liga): 1975–76
- FIFA 100 (named one of the 125 greatest living footballers)
- Ballon d'Or Dream Team (Bronze): 2020
