Gert Verbeek

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

While still a professional player, Meijer began his coaching career managing amateur teams VV Strijen, DCV and Hermes DVS. After 3 consecutive league titles with VV Strijen, he became assistant coach at Feyenoord. Between 1990 and 1999 Meijer was the assistant of 7 different Feyenoord managers: Gunder Bengtsson, Pim Verbeek, Hans Dorjee, Wim Jansen, Willem van Hanegem, Arie Haan and Leo Beenhakker. When Willem van Hanegem was sacked in 1995, Meijer was caretaker manager. In 1997, after Arie Haan was sacked, Meijer was also caretaker manager (together with John Metgod).

In Their Own Story

Meijer worked as a youth coach for 4 years at Feyenoord and for 2 years in Abu Dhabi. In 2005 he became Head Coach at FC Hämeenlinna, which played in the Ykkönen, the second level in Finland. As the Finnish football season takes place between April and October, the team avoided relegation in autumn and in December Meijer became assistant of Henk Wisman in Armenia, at both the National Team and FC Pyunik. In 2007, Sparta Rotterdam's manager Gert Aandewie was sacked. Sparta's under-23 coach Adri van Tiggelen became caretaker manager in November and December 2007, while Meijer assisted him. This meant that Meijer took over Sparta's under-23 team from van Tiggelen for the next three and a half years. Meijer stayed a few more years at Sparta as a scout, and as assistant of Jos van Eck when he was Sparta's caretaker manager in the 2nd division from February 2011 until the end of the season. Meijer always combined his work at Sparta with coaching amateur teams SV Bolnes and VV Strijen.

Reader's Guide

Meijer's last season at VV Strijen was 2021–22, when he finalised his third spell (each spell lasting seven years) as head coach at VV Strijen. His coaching career spans amateur teams, top-flight assistant roles, caretaker manager stints at Feyenoord, a head coach position in Finland, and assistant work in Armenia with both the national team and FC Pyunik. He also served as Sparta Rotterdam's under-23 coach, scout, and assistant caretaker manager.

Did You Know?

• Geert Meijer was born on 15 March 1951 in Sellingen.
• He made 15 appearances in the English First Division for Bristol City.
• Between 1990 and 1999, Meijer was assistant to 7 different Feyenoord managers.
• He served as caretaker manager of Feyenoord twice: in 1995 and 1997.
• Meijer's third and final spell as head coach at VV Strijen lasted seven years, ending in 2021–22.