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. is the 258th day of the year (259th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1951 (MCMLI) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... A player (wearing the red kit) has penetrated the defence (in the white kit) and is taking a shot at goal. ... The Midfield in relation to the football positions In association football, a midfielder is a player whose position of play is midway between the attacking strikers and the defenders (highlighted in blue on the diagram). ... First international Belgium 1 - 4 Netherlands (Antwerp, Belgium; 30 April 1905) Biggest win Netherlands 9 - 0 Norway (Rotterdam, Netherlands; 1 November 1972) Biggest defeat Netherlands 2 - 12 England Amateur (The Hague, Netherlands; 1 April 1907) World Cup Appearances 8 (First in 1934) Best result Runners-up, 1974 and 1978 European... The 1974 Football World Cup was held in West Germany. ... Qualifying countries The 1978 FIFA World Cup, the 11th staging of the World Cup, was held in Argentina between June 1 and June 25. ... Franklin Edmundo Frank Rijkaard (born September 30, 1962 in Amsterdam) is a Dutch football manager and former player. ... Futbol Club Barcelona, known familiarly as Barça (IPA: baɾ.sə), is a sports club based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. ...

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 Segundo. Heemstede (population 25,660 in 2004) is a town in the northwestern Netherlands, in the province of North Holland. ... North Holland: (Dutch: Noord-Holland) is a province of the Netherlands, located in the northwest part of the country. ... Marinus (Rinus) Jacobus Hendricus Michels (February 9, 1928 – March 3, 2005) was a Dutch football player and coach. ... Amsterdamsche Football Club Ajax (Euronext: AJAX) also referred to as Ajax Amsterdam, AFC Ajax, or simply Ajax (pronounced /ˈʌɪjaks/), is a professional football club from Amsterdam, Netherlands. ... The UEFA Champions League (also known as the European Cup, UCL, CE1, C1[1] or CL) is a seasonal club football competition organized by the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) since 1955 for the most successful football clubs in Europe. ... Panathinaikos Athlitikos Omilos (Greek: Παναθηναϊκός Αθλητικός Όμιλος,  ), widely known both as Panathinaikos or PAO, is a Greek multisport club based in Athens, Greece. ... Hendrik Johannes Cruijff ( ) - often spelled Cruyff outside the Netherlands; see IJ (digraph)); born April 25, 1947 in Amsterdam) is a Dutch football manager/coach and former player. ... Futbol Club Barcelona, known familiarly as Barça (IPA: baɾ.sÉ™), is a sports club based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. ... // A nickname is a name of a person or thing other than its proper name. ...

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. Futbol Club Barcelona, known familiarly as Barça (IPA: baɾ.sÉ™), is a sports club based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. ... The Cup Winners Cup was a football club competition between the winners of the European domestic cup competitions. ... The New York Cosmos (1971–1985), known simply as the Cosmos for the 1977 and 1978 seasons, was a franchise in the North American Soccer League, based in New York City and its suburbs. ... FC Groningen is a football club from Groningen in the Netherlands. ...

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. First international Poland 3 - 0 East Germany (Warsaw, Poland; 21 September 1952) Last International Belgium 0 - 2 East Germany (Brussels, Belgium; 12 September 1990) Biggest win Ceylon 1 - 12 East Germany (Colombo, Ceylon; 12 January 1964) Biggest defeat 0 - 3, 12 times; 1 - 4, three times World Cup Appearances 1... The 1974 Football World Cup was held in West Germany. ... Qualifying countries The 1978 FIFA World Cup, the 11th staging of the World Cup, was held in Argentina between June 1 and June 25. ... Qualifying countries The 1974 FIFA World Cup, the tenth staging of the World Cup, was held in West Germany from June 13 to July 7. ... Bonaventure Kalou of the Ivory Coast takes a penalty against Dragoslav Jevrić of S&M during the 2006 World Cup. ...

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. He played his final international game in 1981 in a 2-0 defeat against France in a qualifier for the 1982 World Cup. First international Belgium 1 - 4 Netherlands (Antwerp, Belgium; 30 April 1905) Biggest win Netherlands 9 - 0 Norway (Rotterdam, Netherlands; 1 November 1972) Biggest defeat Netherlands 2 - 12 England Amateur (The Hague, Netherlands; 1 April 1907) World Cup Appearances 8 (First in 1934) Best result Runners-up, 1974 and 1978 European... Qualifying countries The 1982 FIFA World Cup, the 12th staging of the World Cup, was held in Spain from June 13 to July 11. ...

Neeskens was named by Pelé as one of the top 125 greatest living footballers in March 2004. Edson Arantes do Nascimento, KBE (born October 23rd 1940 in Três Corações, Brazil), best known by his nickname Pelé, is a former Brazilian football player and widely considered as the greatest in history. ... Pelé The FIFA 100 is a list of the world-renowned Brazilian striker Pelés choice of the greatest living footballers. Unveiled on March 4, 2004 at a gala ceremony in London, the FIFA 100 marked part of the celebrations of the 100th anniversary of the foundation of the F...

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. Guus Hiddink (born 8 November 1946 in Varsseveld) is a Dutch football manager. ... Franklin Edmundo Frank Rijkaard (born September 30, 1962 in Amsterdam) is a Dutch football manager and former player. ... Ronald Koeman (born March 21, 1963 in Zaandam) is a former Dutch football defender and current manager of PSV Eindhoven. ... First international Belgium 1 - 4 Netherlands (Antwerp, Belgium; 30 April 1905) Biggest win Netherlands 9 - 0 Norway (Rotterdam, Netherlands; 1 November 1972) Biggest defeat Netherlands 2 - 12 England Amateur (The Hague, Netherlands; 1 April 1907) World Cup Appearances 8 (First in 1934) Best result Runners-up, 1974 and 1978 European... Qualifying countries The 1998 FIFA World Cup, the 16th staging of the World Cup, was held in France from June 10 to July 12 after 60 years to celebrate the third edition scheduled in 1938. ... Qualifying countries The 1998 FIFA World Cup, the 16th staging of the World Cup, was held in France from June 10 to July 12 after 60 years to celebrate the third edition scheduled in 1938. ... Franklin Edmundo Frank Rijkaard (born September 30, 1962 in Amsterdam) is a Dutch football manager and former player. ... The 2000 UEFA European Championship, or Euro 2000, was the 11th edition of the UEFA European Championship, a competition between the national football teams of Europe held every four years and organised by UEFA, footballs governing body in Europe. ...

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 along side 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. First international New Zealand 3 - 1 Australia (Dunedin, New Zealand; June 17, 1922) Biggest win Australia 31 - 0 American Samoa (Coffs Harbour, Australia; April 11, 2001) Qualifier for 2002 World Cup (Record in a FIFA world cup qualifying match, also an international record. ... Guus Hiddink (born 8 November 1946 in Varsseveld) is a Dutch football manager. ... First International New Zealand 3 - 1 Australia (Dunedin, New Zealand; June 17, 1922) Largest win Australia 31 - 0 American Samoa (Coffs Harbour, Australia; April 11, 2001) Worst defeat Australia 0 - 8 South Africa (Adelaide, Australia; September 17, 1955) World Cup Appearances 2 (First in 1974) Best result Round 1, 1974... Graham James Arnold (born August 3, 1963 in Sydney, New South Wales) is the current coach of the Australian national football (soccer) team. ... Qualifying countries The 2006 FIFA World Cup was the eighteenth instance of the FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international association football world championship tournament. ... Advance Australia Fair is the official national anthem of Australia. ...

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. Qualifying countries The 2006 FIFA World Cup was the eighteenth instance of the FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international association football world championship tournament. ... Henk ten Cate (born December 9, 1954 in Amsterdam, Noord-Holland) is a Dutch football coach, and a former professional player. ... Franklin Edmundo Frank Rijkaard (born September 30, 1962 in Amsterdam) is a Dutch football manager and former player. ...

Trivia

Neeskens was known for his cold-blooded penalty kicks. He tended to blast the ball high into the middle of the goal, speculating that the goalie would always dive into a corner and would thus be unable to make the save.^{[citation needed]}

	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 Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Netherlands. ... First international Belgium 1 - 4 Netherlands (Antwerp, Belgium; 30 April 1905) Biggest win Netherlands 9 - 0 Norway (Rotterdam, Netherlands; 1 November 1972) Biggest defeat Netherlands 2 - 12 England Amateur (The Hague, Netherlands; 1 April 1907) World Cup Appearances 8 (First in 1934) Best result Runners-up, 1974 and 1978 European... Qualifying countries The 1974 FIFA World Cup, the tenth staging of the World Cup, was held in West Germany from June 13 to July 7. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Netherlands. ... Geertruida (Ruud) Maria Geels (born July 28, 1948 in Haarlem, Noord-Holland) is a retired football striker from the Netherlands, who obtained 20 caps for the Dutch national team, scoring eleven goals, in the 1970s. ... Arie Haan (born November 16, 1948) is a Dutch football manager and a former player. ... Willem (Wim) van Hanegem (born February 20, 1944) is a Dutch football player and coach. ... Kees van Ierssel (born 6 December 1945) is a former Dutch footballer. ... Marinus David Rinus Israël (born 19 March 1942) is a former Dutch football player and current coach. ... Wilhelmus Wim Marinus Anthonius Jansen (born October 28, 1946, Rotterdam) is a former Dutch Football player and manager. ... Theo de Jong (born on 11 August 1947) is a former Dutch footballer. ... Jan Jongbloed (born 25 November 1940 in Amsterdam) was a football goalkeeper with the Netherlands national football team at the 1974 and 1978 FIFA World Cups, wearing the number 8 jersey. ... Peter Johannes (Piet) Keizer (born June 14, 1943 in Amsterdam) was a Dutch professional football player. ... René van de Kerkhof (born September 16, 1951 in Helmond) is a former Dutch football player. ... Willy van de Kerkhof (born September 16, 1951 in Helmond) is a former Dutch football player. ... Rudolf (Ruud or Rudi) Jozef Krol (born March 24, 1949 in Amsterdam) is a retired Dutch footballer who was capped 83 times for his native country. ... Hendrik Johannes Cruijff ( ) - often spelled Cruyff outside the Netherlands; see IJ (digraph)); born April 25, 1947 in Amsterdam) is a Dutch football manager/coach and former player. ... Pieter Robert (Rob) Rensenbrink (born July 3, 1947 in Amsterdam) is a former Dutch football player. ... Nicholaas (Johnny) Rep (born November 25, 1951 in Zaandam, Noord-Holland) is a former Dutch football striker. ... Wim Rijsbergen is a football manager, and is currently in charge of the Trinidad and Tobago national team. ... Pieter (Piet) Schrijvers (born December 15, 1946) a retired football goalkeeper from the Netherlands, who obtained 46 caps for his national team in the years 1971–1984. ... Pleun Strik (born 27 May 1944) is a former Dutch footballer. ... Wilhemus L.J. Wim Suurbier (born 16 January 1945) is a former Dutch football player. ... Eduard (Eddy) Willem Treijtel (born May 23, 1946 in Rotterdam, Zuid-Holland) is a retired football goalkeeper from the Netherlands, who won the UEFA Cup with Feyenoord Rotterdam in the 1973-1974 season. ... Harry Vos (born 4 September 1946) is a former Dutch footballer. ... Marinus (Rinus) Jacobus Hendricus Michels (February 9, 1928 – March 3, 2005) was a Dutch football player and coach. ...

	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 Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Netherlands. ... First international Belgium 1 - 4 Netherlands (Antwerp, Belgium; 30 April 1905) Biggest win Netherlands 9 - 0 Norway (Rotterdam, Netherlands; 1 November 1972) Biggest defeat Netherlands 2 - 12 England Amateur (The Hague, Netherlands; 1 April 1907) World Cup Appearances 8 (First in 1934) Best result Runners-up, 1974 and 1978 European... Qualifying countries The 1978 FIFA World Cup, the 11th staging of the World Cup, was held in Argentina between June 1 and June 25. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Netherlands. ... Pieter (Piet) Schrijvers (born December 15, 1946) a retired football goalkeeper from the Netherlands, who obtained 46 caps for his national team in the years 1971–1984. ... Jan Poortvliet (born September 21, 1953 in Arnemuiden, Zeeland) is a retired football defender from the Netherlands, who represented his native country at the 1978 FIFA World Cup in Argentina, wearing the number two jersey. ... Dick Schoenaker (born November 30, 1952 in Ede, Gelderland) is a retired football midfielder from the Netherlands, who represented his native country at the 1978 FIFA World Cup in Argentina, wearing the number three jersey. ... Adrianus (Adrie) Ambrosius Cornelis van Kraay (born August 1, 1953 in Eindhoven, Noord-Brabant) is a retired football central defender from the Netherlands, who represented his native country at the 1978 FIFA World Cup in Argentina, wearing the number four jersey. ... Rudolf (Ruud or Rudi) Jozef Krol (born March 24, 1949 in Amsterdam) is a retired Dutch footballer who was capped 83 times for his native country. ... Wilhelmus Wim Marinus Anthonius Jansen (born October 28, 1946, Rotterdam) is a former Dutch Football player and manager. ... Pieter (Piet) Wildschut (born October 25, 1957 in Leeuwarden, Friesland) is a retired football defender from the Netherlands, who obtained a total number of eleven international caps for the Dutch national team. ... Jan Jongbloed (born 25 November 1940 in Amsterdam) was a football goalkeeper with the Netherlands national football team at the 1974 and 1978 FIFA World Cups, wearing the number 8 jersey. ... Arie Haan (born November 16, 1948) is a Dutch football manager and a former player. ... René van de Kerkhof (born September 16, 1951 in Helmond) is a former Dutch football player. ... Willy van de Kerkhof (born September 16, 1951 in Helmond) is a former Dutch football player. ... Pieter Robert (Rob) Rensenbrink (born July 3, 1947 in Amsterdam) is a former Dutch football player. ... Jan (Johan) Boskamp (born October 21, 1948 in Rotterdam) is a Dutch football manager and a former player. ... Hugo Hovenkamp (born 5 October 1950 in Groningen) is a former Dutch football defender, who played for the Dutch club AZ Alkmaar. ... Nicholaas (Johnny) Rep (born November 25, 1951 in Zaandam, Noord-Holland) is a former Dutch football striker. ... Wim Rijsbergen is a football manager, and is currently in charge of the Trinidad and Tobago national team. ... Dick Nanninga (born 17 January 1949) is a former Dutch footballer. ... Willem (Pim) Doesburg (born October 28, 1943 in Rotterdam, Zuid-Holland) a retired football goalkeeper from the Netherlands, who obtained eight caps for his national team in the years 1967–1981. ... Wilhemus L.J. Wim Suurbier (born 16 January 1945) is a former Dutch football player. ... Harry Lubse (born September 23, 1951) is a retired football striker from the Netherlands, who obtained one international cap for the Dutch national team. ... Ernie Brandts (born: 3 February 1956) is a former Dutch footballer. ... Ernst Happel (November 29, 1925 – November 14, 1992) was an Austrian football player and coach. ...

External links

• Grandes Futbolistas en la Historia de los Mundiales: Johan Neeskens (1974, 1978)[1]
• (Dutch) Profile