Rob Witschge

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Rob Witschge

| image = Rob Witschge 2012.jpg

| upright =

| caption = Witschge in 2012

| full_name = Robert Witschge

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1966|8|22|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Amsterdam, Netherlands

| height = 1.81 m

| position = Midfielder

| currentclub =

| youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = SDW

| youthyears2 = | youthclubs2 = Ajax

| years1 = 1985–1989 | clubs1 = Ajax | caps1 = 92 | goals1 = 13

| years2 = 1989–1990 | clubs2 = Saint-Étienne | caps2 = 51 | goals2 = 11

| years3 = 1991–1996 | clubs3 = Feyenoord | caps3 = 160 | goals3 = 25

| years4 = 1996–1997 | clubs4 = Utrecht | caps4 = 29 | goals4 = 1

| years5 = 1998–1999 | clubs5 = Ittihad | caps5 = | goals5 =

| totalcaps = 332 | totalgoals = 50

| nationalyears1 = 1989–1995 | nationalteam1 = Netherlands | nationalcaps1 = 30 | nationalgoals1 = 3

| manageryears1 = 2001–2002 | managerclubs1 = Haarlem (assistant)

| manageryears2 = 2002–2004 | managerclubs2 = ADO'20

| manageryears3 = 2004–2008 | managerclubs3 = Netherlands (assistant)

| manageryears4 = 2008–2009 | managerclubs4 = Ajax (assistant)

}}

Robert Witschge (born 22 August 1966) is a Dutch former professional footballer who played as a midfielder.

He spent most of his 14-year professional career with Feyenoord, but started out at Ajax, amassing Eredivisie totals of 281 matches and 39 goals.

Witschge represented the Netherlands national team in the 1994 World Cup and Euro 1992.

Club career

Born in Amsterdam, North Holland, Witschge started his professional career with local Ajax, being an undisputed starter at the age of 20 and a crucial element of the team that won the 1986–87 European Cup Winners' Cup. During three seasons, he shared teams with his sibling Richard.

Witschge joined French club Saint-Étienne in July 1989 but, unsettled, returned home in January 1991 with Feyenoord. He helped the Rotterdam side win three Dutch Cups, one Supercup and the 1992–93 Eredivisie.

After one weak final year with Feyenoord – 13 appearances, no goals – the 30-year-old moved to Utrecht, retiring in 1999 after one season with Saudi Arabia's Ittihad. In 2001, Witschge took up coaching, being named assistant of Marco van Basten and John van 't Schip at the national team in 2004; he rejoined the pair at Ajax four years later, again as assistant.{{cite web|url=http://english.ajax.nl/web/show?id=154814&cfe=155980&contentid=65670&ff=155980|title=Marco van Basten new coach Ajax|publisher=AFC Ajax|date=22 February 2008|access-date=28 February 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080301082335/http://english.ajax.nl/web/show?id=154814&cfe=155980&contentid=65670&ff=155980|archive-date=1 March 2008}}

International career

Witschge made his debut for the Netherlands on 4 January 1989 in a friendly against Israel (2–0 away win), going on to win 30 caps (three goals) and represent the nation at UEFA Euro 1992{{cite news|url=https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/1992/05/26/feyenoorder-rob-witschge-neemt-plaats-in-van-geblesseerde-7144625-a689631|title=Feyenoorder Rob Witschge neemt plaats in van geblesseerde broer Richard; Oranje zoekt scherpte in oefencampagne|trans-title=Feyenoord man Rob Witschge takes the place of injured brother Richard; Orange seek sharpness in practice campaign|newspaper=NRC Handelsblad|last=Serné|first=Marc|language=nl|date=26 May 1992|access-date=23 October 2018}} and the 1994 FIFA World Cup.

Personal life

Witschge's younger brother, Richard, is also a former footballer and a midfielder.{{cite news|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/footballs-best-brothers-nevilles-reunited-6945526|title=Football's best brothers: As the Nevilles are reunited, we rank 30 of soccer's most celebrated sets of siblings|newspaper=Daily Mirror|last=Lang|first=Jack|date=3 December 2015|access-date=9 February 2016}}

References

External links

[http://www.beijen.net/frank/cvs/witschge-r_1.htm Beijen profile] {{in lang|nl}}
[http://www.vi.nl/Spelers/Speler/Rob-Witschge.htm Stats at Voetbal International] {{in lang|nl}}
{{wvo|1059}}
{{NFT|14157}}
{{FIFA player|60000}}

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Category:1966 births

Category:Living people

Category:Footballers from Amsterdam

Category:Dutch men's footballers

Category:Men's association football midfielders

Category:Eredivisie players