1. Life
Jan Zwartkruis's early life and the initial steps of his coaching career are not extensively detailed in public records, but his significant contributions to football management began in the mid-20th century.
1.1. Birth and Early Life
Jan Zwartkruis was born on February 18, 1926, in Elst, a municipality located in the province of Gelderland, Netherlands. He was a Dutch national throughout his life.
1.2. Start of Coaching Career
Specific details regarding the very beginning of Jan Zwartkruis's coaching career, prior to his national team appointments, are not widely documented. His professional managerial career gained prominence with his roles at the national team level, beginning in the mid-1970s.
2. Managerial Career
Jan Zwartkruis had a notable career as a national team manager, leading three different national football teams during his tenure.
2.1. Netherlands National Football Team
Zwartkruis served as the manager of the Netherlands national football team during two distinct periods. His first spell was from 1976 to 1977, and he returned for a second period from 1978 to 1981. Across these two tenures, he coached the team in a total of 28 matches. His time with the Dutch national team included their participation in major international tournaments such as the UEFA Euro 1980, held in Italy, and the 1980 Mundialito, an invitational tournament held in Uruguay to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first FIFA World Cup.
2.2. Trinidad and Tobago National Football Team
Following his time with the Netherlands, Jan Zwartkruis briefly coached the Trinidad and Tobago national football team during the 1980s. This period marked his foray into managing national teams outside of Europe.
2.3. Netherlands Antilles National Football Team
Later in his career, Zwartkruis took on the role of coaching the Netherlands Antilles national football team. He managed the team from 1992 to 1994, specifically during their qualification rounds for the 1994 FIFA World Cup. The team competed in the CONCACAF Caribbean Zone qualifiers.
3. Personal Life
Publicly available information regarding Jan Zwartkruis's personal life, such as details about his family or marital status, is not extensively documented in the provided sources.
4. Death
Jan Zwartkruis passed away on March 7, 2013, at the age of 87. He died in Amersfoort, a city located in the province of Utrecht, Netherlands.
5. Evaluation and Impact
Jan Zwartkruis's career as a football manager, particularly his two spells with the Netherlands national football team, highlights his significant contribution to Dutch football during a pivotal era. His leadership of the national team in major tournaments like UEFA Euro 1980 and the 1980 Mundialito underscored his role in guiding the squad on the international stage. Beyond the Netherlands, his coaching experiences with the Trinidad and Tobago national football team and the Netherlands Antilles national football team demonstrated his reach and influence in developing football programs in other regions. While specific details on his coaching philosophy or long-term impact are not extensively documented, his consistent presence in national team management roles across different continents signifies a dedicated career in the sport.