Bert van Marwijk

Bert van Marwijk
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Name	Bert van Marwijk
Fullname	Lambertus van Marwijk
Birth date	1960-05-19
Birth place	Deventer, Netherlands
Height	1.86 m
Position	Midfielder
Youthclubs	Go Ahead Eagles
Years1	1978–1988
Clubs1	Go Ahead Eagles
Caps1	255
Goals1	25
Years2	1988–1992
Clubs2	Feyenoord
Caps2	97
Goals2	11
Totalcaps	352
Totalgoals	36
Manageryears1	1999–2000
Managerclubs1	Heracles Almelo
Manageryears2	2000–2004
Managerclubs2	Feyenoord (youth)
Manageryears3	2004–2008
Managerclubs3	Feyenoord
Manageryears4	2008–2012
Managerclubs4	Netherlands
Manageryears5	2014–2015
Managerclubs5	Bayer Leverkusen
Manageryears6	2015–2016
Managerclubs6	Saudi Arabia
Manageryears7	2018–2019
Managerclubs7	Australia
Manageryears8	2019–2020
Managerclubs8	United Arab Emirates

Bert van Marwijk Lambertus "Bert" van Marwijk (born 19 May 1960) is a Dutch professional football manager and former midfielder known for leading the Netherlands to the 2010 FIFA World Cup final. As a player he featured for Go Ahead Eagles and Feyenoord, and as a coach he managed clubs and national teams across Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Australia. Van Marwijk's career intersects with notable tournaments, clubs, and figures in modern association football history.

Early life and playing career

Van Marwijk was born in Deventer, Overijssel, and developed in the youth system of Go Ahead Eagles. He made his professional debut in the late 1970s during the era of Eredivisie competition and played primarily as a central midfielder. Across a decade at Go Ahead Eagles he formed part of squads competing against clubs like Ajax, PSV Eindhoven, and Feyenoord. In 1988 he transferred to Feyenoord, where he appeared alongside players such as Gio van Bronckhorst and under coaches connected to Dutch football traditions stemming from figures like Rinus Michels and Johan Cruyff. He retired from playing in the early 1990s and moved into coaching and technical roles within Feyenoord and the Dutch club circuit.

Managerial career

Van Marwijk began his managerial path with roles at Heracles Almelo before returning to Feyenoord to oversee youth development and later the first team. As Feyenoord manager he navigated domestic rivalries with Ajax and PSV Eindhoven while guiding the club in UEFA Cup and UEFA Champions League qualification battles. In the Eredivisie his teams were noted for organization and pragmatism, leading to a move to the international stage. After his national-team tenure he managed in the Bundesliga with Bayer Leverkusen and at club level in Saudi Professional League contexts, reflecting connections with clubs and competitions across Europe and the Middle East.

International management

Appointed manager of the Netherlands in 2008, Van Marwijk led the side through qualification for UEFA Euro 2008 and, most notably, the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. His Netherlands reached the final, playing a controversial final against Spain at Soccer City, featuring stars such as Wesley Sneijder, Arjen Robben, Robin van Persie, and opponents like Andrés Iniesta and David Villa. The Netherlands lost 1–0 after extra time, but the campaign included victories over Brazil and tactical matchups against Uruguay and Argentina in previous tournaments. Van Marwijk later took charge of Saudi Arabia, the Socceroos, and the UAE, preparing squads for AFC Asian Cup qualifiers, FIFA World Cup qualification cycles, and regional tournaments such as the Gulf Cup.

Coaching style and tactics

Van Marwijk's approach emphasizes defensive organisation, physical conditioning, and transitional play, drawing on Dutch coaching traditions and contemporary tactical developments associated with figures like Bert van Marwijk's contemporaries in Dutch coaching. His preferred formations have ranged from 4–2–3–1 to 4–3–3 depending on personnel such as Wesley Sneijder's playmaking role or the wide attacking threat of players like Arjen Robben and Dirk Kuyt. Teams under his stewardship often prioritized compact defensive lines, zonal marking in set-piece situations, and counterattacks exploiting pace and individual dribbling. Opponents and analysts compared his methods with those of coaches like Louis van Gaal and Frank Rijkaard while debates linked his pragmatism to broader tactical shifts in modern international football.

Personal life

Van Marwijk has maintained a relatively private family life, residing in the Netherlands between international appointments and engaging with football administration and punditry circles involving institutions such as KNVB (Royal Dutch Football Association). He is known to have professional relationships with coaches and directors across clubs like Feyenoord, Heracles Almelo, and Bayer Leverkusen, and his career has brought him into contact with players and officials from national teams including Spain, Germany, Brazil, and Argentina. He has been involved in discussions on coaching education and talent development within Dutch and international football forums.

Honours and achievements

As a player he won domestic honours with Feyenoord and competed in European competitions including the UEFA Cup. As a manager his most prominent achievement was guiding the Netherlands to the 2010 FIFA World Cup final and securing notable tournament performances in UEFA European Championship qualifying. At club level he led Feyenoord to strong domestic finishes and participated in UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League campaigns. Individual recognition came in the form of acclaim in Dutch sports media and acknowledgments from football institutions during World Cup and continental tournament cycles.

Category:Dutch football managers Category:People from Deventer Category:1960 births Category:Living people