Bert van Marwijk

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Lore & Background

Van Marwijk's managerial career began at Fortuna Sittard, where he finished seventh in the Eredivisie in 1998 and reached the KNVB Cup final in 1999. In 2000, he took over Feyenoord and led them to second place in his first season. The 2001–02 season brought his biggest success: after beating SC Freiburg, Rangers, PSV, and Internazionale in the knockout stage, Feyenoord won the UEFA Cup final 3–2 against Borussia Dortmund. He extended his contract in October 2002 until summer 2004, with an option for another year. Feyenoord finished third in the league in 2001–02, 2002–03, and 2003–04. After spells at Borussia Dortmund and a return to Feyenoord (winning the 2008 KNVB Cup 2–0 against Roda JC), he became Netherlands head coach. At the 2010 World Cup, the Dutch beat Slovakia, Brazil, and Uruguay before losing the final 1–0 in extra time to Spain. He opted for a very hard style of play, especially in the final, in strong contrast with Dutch tradition. After Euro 2012 (three losses, no points), he resigned on 27 June 2012.

In Their Own Story

In May 2002, van Marwijk stood on the sideline in Rotterdam as Feyenoord faced Borussia Dortmund in the UEFA Cup final. His team had already knocked out SC Freiburg, Rangers, PSV, and Internazionale. The match ended 3–2 to Feyenoord, delivering the club's first European trophy in 28 years. Van Marwijk had built a squad that combined veterans like Paul Bosvelt with emerging talents, and his tactical organization held firm against the German side. Eight years later, he led the Netherlands to the World Cup final in South Africa. After a 1–0 extra-time loss to Spain, he faced criticism for the team's aggressive approach, but the run included a 2–1 quarterfinal win over Brazil and a 3–2 semifinal victory over Uruguay. His tenure ended after a winless Euro 2012 campaign, where the Dutch lost all three group matches.

Reader's Guide

Van Marwijk's managerial style emphasized defensive organization and counter-attacking efficiency. At Feyenoord, he built teams around strong midfielders like Mark van Bommel and later Giovanni van Bronckhorst. His 2001–02 UEFA Cup run featured a 3–2 final win over Borussia Dortmund, with key knockout victories against Rangers, PSV, and Internazionale. He won the KNVB Cup in 2008 with Feyenoord, beating Roda JC 2–0. With the Netherlands, he guided the team to the 2010 World Cup final, defeating Slovakia (round of 16), Brazil (quarterfinals), and Uruguay (semifinals) before losing 1–0 to Spain in extra time. After Euro 2012 (three losses, no points), he resigned. Later, he qualified Saudi Arabia for the 2018 World Cup but left before the tournament, then coached Australia during the 2018 World Cup (one draw, two losses, eliminated in group stage). He also managed Hamburg (sacked after 143 days), the UAE national team (twice, sacked both times), and received the Rinus Michels Lifetime Achievement Award in June 2022.

Did You Know?

• Van Marwijk won the Klaverjas world championship in 1975.
• His daughter Andra married Dutch international Mark van Bommel; their sons Thomas and Ruben van Bommel debuted professionally with MVV Maastricht in the early 2020s.
• He was knighted in the Order of Orange-Nassau in 2010.
• Van Marwijk's only cap for the Netherlands came in a 1975 friendly against Yugoslavia, called up by Rinus Michels.
• He lasted only 143 days as head coach of Hamburger SV in 2013–14.