Johan Neeskens
Dutch football manager and player (1951–2024)
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Key Takeaways
- Johannes Jacobus Neeskens ( Dutch pronunciation: [ˈjoːɦɑ ˈneːskəns] ; 15 September 1951 – 6 October 2024) was a Dutch football manager and player.
- In 2004, he was named one of the 125 Greatest Living Footballers at a FIFA Awards Ceremony, while in 2017 he was included in the FourFourTwo list of the 100 all-time greatest players, at the 64th position.
- He was also head coach of NEC Nijmegen, the Netherlands B national team, and Mamelodi Sundowns.
- In his childhood, marked by his parents' divorce, he slept in a corridor due to lack of space.
- He represented the Netherlands at a youth European Championship in the latter sport.
Johannes Jacobus Neeskens (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈjoːɦɑ ˈneːskəns]; 15 September 1951 – 6 October 2024) was a Dutch football manager and player. A midfielder, he was an important member of the Netherlands national team that finished as runners-up in the 1974 and 1978 FIFA World Cups and is considered one of the greatest midfielders of all time. In 2004, he was named one of the 125 Greatest Living Footballers at a FIFA Awards Ceremony, while in 2017 he was included in the FourFourTwo list of the 100 all-time greatest players, at the 64th position.
After his retirement in 1991, Neeskens was assistant manager to Guus Hiddink with the Dutch and Australian national teams, and to Frank Rijkaard for the Netherlands, Barcelona and Galatasaray. He was also head coach of NEC Nijmegen, the Netherlands B national team, and Mamelodi Sundowns.
Early life
Neeskens was born in Heemstede in North Holland on 15 September 1951. In his childhood, marked by his parents' divorce, he slept in a corridor due to lack of space.
Neeskens was gifted at sports as a child, including gymnastics and baseball. He represented the Netherlands at a youth European Championship in the latter sport.
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