Johan Neeskens

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Johannes ("Johan") Jacobus Neeskens (born September 15, 1951) is a Dutch football manager and former midfielder. As a player, he was an important member of the Dutch national team that finished as runner-ups in the 1974 and 1978 FIFA World Cups. He is currently assistant coach to Frank Rijkaard at Barcelona.

[edit] Club career

Neeskens, a native of Heemstede, Noord-Holland, started his career at RCH Heemstede in 1968, before being spotted by Rinus Michels and signed for Ajax in 1969. The youngster impressed at right-back, playing in that position for Ajax in the 1971 European Cup Final win against Panathinaikos. During the 1971-72 season, Neeskens took up more of a central midfield role, in support of Johan Cruijff, but was equally adept in central defence. Ajax completed a hat-trick of European Cup wins between 1971 and 1973, and Neeskens moved on to FC Barcelona in 1974 to join Cruijff and Michels. There he was nicknamed Johan Segon (Johan the Second).

While his time at Barça was relatively unsuccessful (one cup title ('78) and the 1979 Cup Winners' Cup), he was hugely popular amongst the fans. In 1979, he accepted an offer from the New York Cosmos, spending 5 years at the club. Winding down his career, he also played for FC Groningen (1984-85), Fort Lauderdale Sun (1986-87), FC Baar (1988-90) and FC Zug in Switzerland, finally hanging up his boots in 1991.

[edit] International career

Neeskens was capped 49 times for his country, scoring 17 goals. He made his debut against East Germany, and played a crucial role in the 1974 and 1978 FIFA World Cups, playing in central midfield. Neeskens scored the opening goal of the 1974 World Cup final against West Germany on a penalty kick after only 2 minutes of play.

Four years later, Neeskens was a crucial player for the Dutch (despite a rib injury suffered in the Scotland defeat), in the absence of Cruijff who had retired from international football in 1977. The Netherlands again reached the final, only to lose to the hosts, this time Argentina, going down 3-1 after extra time (the score at the end of regulation was 1-1). He played his final international game in 1981 in a 2-0 defeat against France in a qualifier for the 1982 World Cup.

Neeskens was named by Pelé as one of the top 125 greatest living footballers in March 2004.

[edit] Coaching career

At the request of Guus Hiddink, Neeskens along with Frank Rijkaard and Ronald Koeman, acted as assistant coach for the Dutch national team during the qualifiers and the finals of the 1998 FIFA World Cup. After Hiddink stepped down as national coach after the 1998 FIFA World Cup, he performed the same role during the reign of Frank Rijkaard as national coach up until the end of Euro 2000. He was then appointed as coach of Dutch side NEC Nijmegen leading them to their first European appearance in twenty years in 2003, but was sacked in 2004 because of poor results.

In December 2005, Neeskens was appointed the assistant coach of the Australian national team, once again at the request of Guus Hiddink, the Socceroos's manager at the time. He worked alongside Hiddink and Graham Arnold as part of their World Cup 2006 campaign. When the Australian national anthem Advance Australia Fair was played before the Japan and Brazil games, he was seen to have sung along.

After the World Cup, he returned to his former club FC Barcelona to replace Henk ten Cate in the club's technical staff, reuniting with Frank Rijkaard. The 3 year deal was signed when Neeskens flew in from Germany following Australia's opening win over Japan. On the 7th October 2006 Neeskens was alongside the Australian national team's bench in a friendly match between Paraguay while visiting Australia for a short break.

On May 8th 2008, Joan Laporta announced that Neeskens will leave FC Barcelona at the end of the current season.

[edit] External links

• Grandes Futbolistas en la Historia de los Mundiales: Johan Neeskens (1974, 1978)
• (Dutch) Profile on Beijen
• Johan Neeskens profile and stats at Wereld van Oranje (Dutch)

• Playing career on National Football Teams

v • d • e Netherlands squad - 1974 FIFA World Cup Runners-up 1 Geels • 2 Haan • 3 van Hanegem • 4 van Ierssel • 5 Israël • 6 Jansen • 7 de Jong • 8 Jongbloed • 9 Keizer • 10 R. van de Kerkhof • 11 W. van de Kerkhof • 12 Krol • 13 Neeskens • 14 Cruijff • 15 Rensenbrink • 16 Rep • 17 Rijsbergen • 18 Schrijvers • 19 Strik • 20 Suurbier • 21 Treijtel • 22 Vos • Coach: Michels

v • d • e Netherlands squad - 1978 FIFA World Cup Runners-up 1 Schrijvers • 2 Poortvliet • 3 Schoenaker • 4 van Kraay • 5 Krol • 6 Jansen • 7 Wildschut • 8 Jongbloed • 9 Haan • 10 R. van de Kerkhof • 11 W. van de Kerkhof • 12 Rensenbrink • 13 Neeskens • 14 Boskamp • 15 Hovenkamp • 16 Rep • 17 Rijsbergen • 18 Nanninga • 19 Doesburg • 20 Suurbier • 21 Lubse • 22 Brandts • Coach: Happel