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| Wim Rijsbergen | |
|---|---|
| Name | Wim Rijsbergen |
| Fullname | Willem Rijsbergen |
| Birth date | 1952-12-23 |
| Birth place | Heiloo, Netherlands |
| Height | 1.84 m |
| Position | Defender |
| Youthclubs | SV Heiloo |
| Years1 | 1970–1976 |
| Clubs1 | Feyenoord |
| Years2 | 1976–1983 |
| Clubs2 | Saint-Étienne |
| Years3 | 1983–1984 |
| Clubs3 | NAC Breda |
| Nationalyears1 | 1974–1978 |
| Nationalteam1 | Netherlands |
| Nationalcaps1 | 39 |
| Manageryears1 | 1986–1988 |
| Managerclubs1 | NAC Breda |
| Manageryears2 | 1990–1992 |
| Managerclubs2 | Go Ahead Eagles |
| Manageryears3 | 1996–1997 |
| Managerclubs3 | Suriname |
| Manageryears4 | 2009–2010 |
| Managerclubs4 | Samoa |
Wim Rijsbergen (born 23 December 1952) is a Dutch former professional footballer and manager noted for his central defensive role during the 1970s and for a varied international coaching career. Prominent in the Dutch Golden Era of Feyenoord and a long-serving international for the Netherlands, he later managed clubs and national teams across Europe, South America, Asia, Africa, and Oceania. His career intersects with major figures and institutions in football history, including appearances at FIFA World Cup tournaments and stints in the Ligue 1.
Born in Heiloo, North Holland, he began his youth football with local side SV Heiloo before moving to Feyenoord's academy. At Feyenoord he developed alongside contemporaries from the Dutch football renaissance, playing in defensive partnerships that faced clubs such as Ajax, PSV Eindhoven and FC Twente. His senior debut for Feyenoord came in the early 1970s, a period marked by domestic rivalry with Ajax Amsterdam and international competition in the European Cup. In 1976 he transferred to AS Saint-Étienne, joining a side that competed in the top tier of French football and faced opponents like Olympique de Marseille, Paris Saint-Germain, and AS Monaco FC. He finished his playing career with a return to the Netherlands at NAC Breda, where he transitioned toward coaching while interacting with figures from KNVB structures and Dutch club administration.
He earned his first call-up to the Netherlands in 1974 during an era when the squad featured names such as Johan Cruyff, Johan Neeskens, Ruud Krol, Johnny Rep, and Arie Haan. He was part of the Dutch squad at the 1974 FIFA World Cup which reached the final against West Germany and played a role in subsequent international competitions. In the build-up to the 1978 FIFA World Cup, he remained a regular selection under managers who stewarded the team through qualifiers and friendlies versus national sides like Brazil, Argentina, and England. His international tenure included appearances in UEFA fixtures facing nations such as Italy and Spain and competition at tournaments organized under FIFA and UEFA auspices.
After retirement he moved into management with roles at NAC Breda and Go Ahead Eagles, gaining experience in the Eredivisie and Eerste Divisie. His coaching path became international: he managed the Suriname and held club positions in South America, Asia, Africa, and Oceania, engaging with organizations like the Brazil's club network, Peruvian clubs, and Southeast Asian sides. He served in technical and head-coaching capacities at clubs that competed in regional competitions such as the Copa Libertadores and continental qualifying tournaments under CONMEBOL and AFC. Later appointments included managing the Samoa, collaborating with local federations and coaching staffs to develop national programs and youth structures in cooperation with confederation development initiatives by OFC and FIFA.
As a central defender he was noted for aerial ability, tactical reading, and physical presence, characteristics that allowed him to mark forwards from clubs like Real Madrid and FC Barcelona during European ties. Contemporary reports contrasted his style with ball-playing defenders of the era such as Ruud Krol and praised his defensive discipline similar to peers like Franz Beckenbauer in terms of positional intelligence. Managers and teammates from Feyenoord and Saint-Étienne credited him with leadership on the pitch, organizing backlines against attacking talents such as Gerd Müller, Jairzinho, and Rob Rensenbrink. His reputation extended into coaching where he emphasized defensive organization, set-piece routines, and transitional play in line with methodologies employed across UEFA and CONCACAF training systems.
With Feyenoord he won domestic trophies and participated in European competition, competing against winners of the European Cup and UEFA Cup. At Saint-Étienne he contributed to campaigns in the Ligue 1 and domestic cup competitions against sides like FC Nantes. Internationally he was part of Netherlands squads that reached the 1974 FIFA World Cup final and were contenders in the 1978 FIFA World Cup cycle. Individually he amassed nearly forty international caps and is remembered in club histories and national archives for contributions during a formative era alongside figures such as Johan Cruyff and Wim van Hanegem.
He has maintained links with Dutch football through coaching education and occasional media commentary, contributing to historical perspectives alongside former internationals and club legends like Faas Wilkes and Ronald Koeman. His legacy is preserved in the histories of Feyenoord, Saint-Étienne, and the Netherlands for bridging the 1970s playing era and modern coaching pathways, influencing generations of defenders and coaches across continents through work with federations including KNVB, FIFA, and continental confederations.
Category:Dutch footballers Category:Dutch football managers Category:Netherlands international footballers Category:Feyenoord players Category:AS Saint-Étienne players