Rob Rensenbrink facts for kids
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Rensenbrink in 1978
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| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | 3 July 1947 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Amsterdam, Netherlands | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of death | 24 January 2020 (aged 72) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of death | Oostzaan, Netherlands | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.80 m | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Playing position | Left winger, forward | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| DWS | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1965–1969 | DWS | 120 | (34) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1969–1971 | Club Brugge | 55 | (24) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1971–1980 | Anderlecht | 262 | (143) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1980 | Portland Timbers | 18 | (6) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1981–1982 | Toulouse | 12 | (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 467 | (208) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| National team | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1968–1979 | Netherlands | 46 | (14) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Honours
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Rob Rensenbrink (born July 3, 1947 – died January 24, 2020) was a famous Dutch footballer. He was a key player for the Netherlands national team that reached two World Cup finals in 1974 and 1978. Rob was known as a very creative and skilled left winger or forward. He became a legend in Belgium while playing for the amazing Anderlecht team in the 1970s.
He holds the record as the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup's all-time top scorer, with 25 goals. Rob was a talented dribbler, a cool finisher, and a good passer. He only missed two penalties in his whole career! He was also the first player to win the Onze d'Or award.
Contents
Rob Rensenbrink's Club Journey
Starting His Football Career
Rob Rensenbrink was born in Amsterdam, Netherlands. He began his football journey at DWS, an amateur club in Amsterdam. In 1969, he moved to Belgium to play for Club Brugge.
Becoming a Star at Anderlecht
From 1971 to 1980, Rob played for Anderlecht, where he had his biggest successes. While in Belgium, he helped his teams win the Belgian Championships twice and the Belgian Cup five times. At the European level, he won the Cup Winners' Cup twice, in 1976 and 1978. His team also came in second place in 1977.
In the 1976 final, Rob played an amazing game. Anderlecht won 4–2 against West Ham United. He scored two goals, one from a penalty, and helped set up another goal for his teammate Francois Van der Elst. After leaving Anderlecht in 1980, he played briefly for Portland Timbers in the NASL and then for Toulouse in France in 1981.
Playing for the Netherlands National Team
Early International Games
Rob Rensenbrink first played for the Netherlands national football team in 1968 against Scotland. He didn't play many international games at first because other great players like Johan Cruijff and Piet Keizer were also competing for forward spots. However, coach Rinus Michels chose him for the 1974 FIFA World Cup team.
The 1974 World Cup: Total Football
The Dutch team at the 1974 FIFA World Cup was famous for its "Total Football" style. This meant players could switch positions easily. Most of the 1974 team came from AFC Ajax and Feyenoord, so Rob was a bit of an outsider. His favorite position was on the left side of the attack, but that was usually Johan Cruijff's spot. So, Rob played on the left-wing in midfield instead.
He missed one game in the tournament and was not fully fit for the final because of an injury. Even so, coach Rinus Michels decided to start him in the final against West Germany. Rob only played until half-time and was replaced. The Netherlands scored first with a Johan Neeskens penalty, but West Germany won 2–1. Rob's great performances in the tournament earned him a spot on the "Team of the Tournament."
The 1978 World Cup: Almost a Champion
In the 1978 FIFA World Cup in Argentina, the Netherlands reached the final again. This time, Cruijff was not playing, and Ernst Happel was the coach. Without Cruijff's shadow, Rob Rensenbrink had more chances to show his amazing talent. He played on the left side of the front attack with Johnny Rep and René van de Kerkhof.
- He scored a hat-trick (three goals) in the first game against Iran.
- He scored another goal against Scotland, which was the 1000th goal in World Cup history!
- He also scored a penalty in the 5–1 win over Austria.
In the final against Argentina, the Netherlands faced the host country. It was a very intense match. Argentina scored first, but Dick Nanninga equalized for the Netherlands. In the last seconds of normal time, Rob Rensenbrink had a chance to score the winning goal, but his shot hit the post and bounced away. If it had gone in, the Netherlands would likely have won the World Cup, and Rob would have been the top scorer! Argentina scored twice in extra-time, winning 3–1. The Netherlands finished as runners-up again.
Rob played a few more games for the national team, retiring in 1979 at age 32. He scored 14 goals in 46 games for his country.
Rob Rensenbrink's Amazing Achievements
Rob Rensenbrink was recognized as one of the greatest footballers.
- In 2004, Pelé named him one of the top 125 greatest living footballers.
- In 2008, he was named Anderlecht's greatest ever foreign player.
- He is the all-time top scorer in the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup with 25 goals.
- He scored the 1000th goal in World Cup history.
Rob Rensenbrink's Personal Life
Rob Rensenbrink was married and lived in Oostzaan, Netherlands. In 2015, he shared that he had been diagnosed with a serious illness a few years earlier. He passed away on January 24, 2020.
Honours
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Club Brugge
- Belgian Cup: 1969–70
Anderlecht
- Belgian First Division: 1971–72, 1973–74
- Belgian Cup: 1971–72, 1972–73, 1974–75, 1975–76
- Belgian League Cup: 1973, 1974
- European Cup Winners' Cup: 1975–76, 1977–78; runner-up: 1976–77
- Amsterdam Tournament: 1976
- European Super Cup: 1976, 1978
- Tournoi de Paris: 1977
- Jules Pappaert Cup: 1977
- Belgian Sports Merit Award: 1978
Toulouse
- Division 2: 1981–82
Netherlands
- FIFA World Cup: runner-up 1974, 1978
- UEFA European Football Championship: third place 1976
Individual Awards
- Belgian First Division top scorer: 1972–73
- FIFA World Cup All-Star Team: 1974, 1978
- European Cup Winners' Cup top scorer: 1975–76
- IOC European Footballer of the Season: 1975–76
- Belgian Golden Shoe: 1976
- Onze d'Or: 1976
- Ballon d'Or: runner-up 1976, third place 1978
- Onze de Onze: 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979
- FIFA World Cup Bronze Boot: 1978
- FIFA World Cup Most Assists: 1978
- Onze de Bronze: 1978, 1979
- FIFA 100: 2004
- Best foreign player in the Belgian First Division of all time: 2007
- Best RSC Anderlecht player of all time: 2008
- UEFA Cup Winners' Cup All-time top scorer: (25 goals)
- Scorer of the 1000th World Cup goal
Images for kids
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Rensenbrink in 1978
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Rob Rensenbrink in 1974
See also
In Spanish: Rob Rensenbrink para niños
