Dictionary Thesaurus Word Dynamo Quotes Reference Translator Spanish

Willem van Hanegem

Willem "Wim" van Hanegem (born 20 February 1944) is a Dutch football player and coach born in Breskens, Zeeland. In a playing career spanning over 20 years he won several domestic honours in The Netherlands, as well as two UEFA trophies, all with Feyenoord. He was also a finalist in the FIFA World Cup 1974. AS a manager he won the league and cup with Feyenoord and spent a period as the Dutch national team's assistant coach. He was appointed manager of FC Utrecht in July 2007.

Playing career

Van Hanegem played for Velox SC, Xerxes/DHC, Feyenoord Rotterdam, AZ'67, Chicago Sting, FC Utrecht and, finally, Feyenoord once again. He is respected for his tactical insight. Both his way of sprinting (he had bandy legs), and his skill to give the ball a curve (achieved by striking the ball with the outside of his left foot) gave him the nickname De Kromme (The Crooked). He is also well known for his fantastic passing range and his ability with the ball at his feet.

Playing Germany

Van Hanegem was known for rough, passionate play against German sides (before the 1974 final, he exhorted the Dutch side to "stuff the Germans") . "I don't like Germans. Everytime I played against German players, I had a problem because of the war."

In the summer of 1944 the German 15th army was fleeing northward from Calais to Holland. On 11 September the Allies bombed the Wehrmacht near the ferry terminal at Breskens. Citizens had fled the town but Lo and Izaak van Hanegem, Willem's father and older brother, went back to get supplies. They hid in a shelter, which was hit. Both died. Van Hanegem later lost a brother and a sister to the war. His hatred was summed up after the 1974 final, "I didn't give a damn as long as we humiliated them. They murdered my father, sister and two brothers. I am full of angst. I hate them". After the game (with Germany winning 2-1) Van Hanegem left the field in tears.

In later years, however, Van Hanegem used a more conciliatory tone, when commenting on the war.

Coaching career

After retiring as a player Van Hanegem joined Feyenoord as assistant manager in 1983 and stayed in the post until 1986. He then joined FC Utrecht as assistant, before moving to FC Wageningen. He returned to Feyenoord as manager in 1992, winning the league in 1993 and the Dutch Cup in 1994 and 1995.

In 1995, he had a spell as manager with Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal, then took the post at AZ'67 in 1997. He joined Sparta Rotterdam in 2001. He stay was short-lived, and afterwards he became assistant manager of the Dutch national side. He was appointed manager of FC Utrecht in July 2007.