1. Overview
Willem "Wim" van Hanegem (born 20 February 1944) is a Dutch former football player and coach who primarily played as a midfielder. Standing 71 in (181 cm) tall and weighing 172 lb (78 kg), he was known for his exceptional tactical insight and strong mentality. Van Hanegem is widely regarded as one of the greatest Dutch footballers of all time, holding a significant presence in Dutch football comparable to that of Johan Cruyff. His career spanned over two decades, during which he achieved numerous domestic and international honours with Feyenoord, including the European Cup and UEFA Cup. He was also a pivotal member of the Dutch national team that reached the final of the 1974 FIFA World Cup. Following his playing career, Van Hanegem transitioned into coaching, notably managing Feyenoord to league and cup successes, and later serving as an assistant coach for the Dutch national team. Beyond the pitch, he has been a prominent football commentator and columnist.
2. Early life
Willem van Hanegem's formative years were marked by significant personal tragedy and an early introduction to football that would shape his future career.
2.1. Childhood and family
Van Hanegem was born on 20 February 1944 in Breskens, Netherlands, to Lo van Hanegem (1905-1944) and Anna van Grol. A devastating event occurred on 11 September 1944, during an Allied bombing raid on Breskens, which resulted in the deaths of his father, Lo, his brother Isaac, and his sister. After the war, in the spring of 1946, his mother moved with her remaining children to Utrecht, where Van Hanegem was raised.
2.2. Youth and early club career
Van Hanegem's football journey began during his youth in Utrecht. As a young street footballer, he displayed a powerful left foot. His talent was discovered during a training session for Velox (a predecessor club to FC Utrecht). He stood on the sidelines, accurately shooting back every ball that went wide of the goal, which caught the attention of coach Daan van Beek. Van Beek invited him to join the club, and within six months, Van Hanegem was playing for Velox's first team. He spent six years with Velox, appearing in 109 games and scoring 39 goals. In 1966, he moved from Utrecht to Rotterdam to play for Xerxes, which had recently been promoted to the Eredivisie. During the 1967-68 season, Van Hanegem established himself as the second-highest scorer in the Eredivisie with 26 goals in 67 appearances, scoring 32 goals for the club in total.
3. Playing career
Willem van Hanegem's professional playing career spanned over two decades, distinguishing him as a formidable midfielder both at the club and international levels.
3.1. Club career
Van Hanegem's most notable successes came after joining Feyenoord in 1968. Despite interest from AFC Ajax, their coach Rinus Michels decided against signing him, reportedly due to concerns about his pace and "one-dimensional" playing style, deeming him unsuitable for "modern football." This decision paved the way for Van Hanegem to join Feyenoord, Ajax's fierce rivals, where he would become a club icon. At Feyenoord, he played alongside esteemed players such as Wim Jansen, Franz Hasil, Coen Moulijn, Ove Kindvall, Ruud Geels, Theo Laseroms, Rinus Israël, Theo de Jong, Johan Boskamp, and Wim Rijsbergen. He also developed a close mentor-mentee relationship with coach Ernst Happel.
Van Hanegem's exceptional playmaking skills were instrumental in a highly successful era for Feyenoord. The club won three Eredivisie titles (1968-69, 1970-71, 1973-74), one KNVB Cup (1968-69), and, most notably, the European Cup in 1970, making Feyenoord the first Dutch club to achieve this feat. Following their European Cup triumph, they also secured the Intercontinental Cup in 1970 against Estudiantes de La Plata. His success continued with a UEFA Cup victory in 1974, defeating Tottenham Hotspur in the final. During his tenure at Feyenoord, he made 247 appearances and scored 88 goals.
In 1976, Van Hanegem departed Feyenoord to join AZ'67, where he played for three seasons, making 75 appearances and scoring 10 goals. During this period, he played alongside striker Kees Kist and midfielders Peter Arntz and Jan Peters, and won another KNVB Cup in 1978. He had a brief stint with the American club Chicago Sting in 1979, playing 27 games and scoring 6 goals, before returning to the Netherlands later that year to play for FC Utrecht, a club formed by the merger of several local teams, including Velox, where he began his career. He played two seasons for FC Utrecht, making 54 appearances and scoring 3 goals. Van Hanegem returned to Feyenoord for a final two seasons in 1981, making 51 appearances and scoring 2 goals, before concluding his professional playing career. In his retirement match, which pitted Feyenoord against the 1974 World Cup national team, he played for the national side and was famously carried off the pitch on his teammates' shoulders after receiving a red card from referee Charles Corver.
3.2. International career
Van Hanegem earned 52 caps for the Dutch national team, scoring six goals between 1968 and 1979. He initially experienced some confusion regarding his name, often being mistakenly referred to as "Wim Hanegem" in early match programs.
He played a crucial role in the Dutch squad during the 1974 FIFA World Cup in West Germany, where he formed a formidable midfield partnership with fellow Feyenoord teammate Wim Jansen and Ajax midfielder Johan Neeskens. The team captivated audiences with their revolutionary "Total Football" style, ultimately finishing as runners-up to West Germany. Van Hanegem also represented the Netherlands in the UEFA Euro 1976, where the team secured a bronze medal. He was initially selected for the 1978 FIFA World Cup squad but withdrew after his AZ teammate Hugo Hovenkamp suffered a knee injury, declining to travel to Argentina. His last appearance for the national team was in 1979.
4. Style of play
Willem van Hanegem is widely recognized as one of the greatest Dutch players of all time and is often considered among the finest midfielders in football history. His distinctive style was characterized by exceptional tactical insight, remarkable passing range, and impressive ball control. Johan Cruyff once commented on Van Hanegem's tenacity, noting, "When I have a bad game, I'm useless. When Van Hanegem has a bad game, he rolls up his sleeves and starts tackling." Ernst Happel, his coach at Feyenoord, praised his versatility, stating, "Willem is a player who can make the game, break the game, can play fast, can play slow. For me, he's a perfect player."
Capable of playing as an attacking midfielder, central midfielder, or defensive midfielder, Van Hanegem excelled in various roles. His unique way of sprinting, attributed to his bandy legs (often referred to as 'O-legs'), and his skill in curving the ball by striking it with the outside of his left foot, earned him the enduring nickname De Kromme (De KrommeThe CrookedDutch). While primarily celebrated as a playmaker, he also demonstrated goal-scoring ability, as evidenced by his being the second-highest scorer in the 1967-68 Eredivisie season. Furthermore, he was highly effective in defensive duties, frequently breaking up plays through tackles. On occasion, Van Hanegem also played as a sweeper, particularly when his Feyenoord teammate Rinus Israël was injured, and later reprised this role in his final years with the club. His leadership skills, high work rate, and tenacity were also key attributes, though his primary weakness was a perceived lack of pace.
5. Coaching career
After retiring as a player in 1983, Willem van Hanegem transitioned into coaching, beginning his new career as an assistant manager at Feyenoord, a position he held until 1986. He then served as an assistant at FC Utrecht before moving to FC Wageningen. He also had a managerial stint with the amateur club USV Holland from 1990 to 1992.
Van Hanegem returned to Feyenoord as manager in 1992, leading the club to significant success. Under his guidance, Feyenoord won the Eredivisie title in the 1992-93 season and secured the KNVB Cup in both 1993-94 and 1994-95. During his first season as manager, he famously handed the number 10 jersey-his former playing number-to Johan Cruyff, who had transferred to Feyenoord from Ajax, and coached a team featuring players like Ruud Gullit, Ben Wijnstekers, and Peter Houtman, winning the championship and cup double. However, his tenure ended in October 1995 after a loss to PSV, with criticisms that he was "too soft on players" leading to his dismissal.
Following his time at Feyenoord, he managed the Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal FC for a short spell in 1995. He then took charge of AZ'67 (now AZ) in 1997, remaining there until 1999. In 2001, he had a brief period as manager of Sparta Rotterdam. After this, he served as an assistant manager for the Dutch national side from 2002 to 2004, a role he undertook after stepping away from direct club management for a few years. His last managerial appointment was with FC Utrecht, where he was appointed in July 2007 but was dismissed on 23 December 2008 following a dispute with Frans van Seumeren. Since then, he has not held another coaching position.
6. Post-retirement activities
After concluding his coaching career, Willem van Hanegem has remained a prominent figure in Dutch football through his work as a football commentator and columnist. He has provided commentary for various television networks, including NOS, RTL, and currently Ziggo Sport. He is also a weekly columnist for the daily newspaper Algemeen Dagblad. His commentary and columns are popular for their love of good football and his consistently critical perspective, though he is also known for his predictions often being incorrect.
7. Personal life
Willem van Hanegem's personal life has been marked by family milestones, health challenges, and outspoken views that have drawn public attention.
7.1. Family and health
Willem van Hanegem married Truus de Nijs in 1963, and they later divorced in 1983. He has two sons: Willem van Hanegem Jr., who is an internationally recognized electronic dance music artist and DJ, forming the duo W&W with Ward van der Harst; and Gert van Hanegem, who played professional football for FC Utrecht.
In January 2018, Van Hanegem publicly revealed in Algemeen Dagblad that he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer at the end of the previous year. He successfully recovered from the illness by March 2018. In recognition of his contributions, he was appointed an Officer in the Order of Orange-Nassau in 2024.
7.2. Controversies and views
Van Hanegem has been known for his outspoken opinions, particularly concerning Germans, which he often linked to his traumatic childhood experiences during World War II. Before the 1974 FIFA World Cup final against West Germany, he famously exhorted the Dutch side to "stuff the Germans." He openly stated, "I don't like Germans. Every time I played against German players, I had a problem because of the war." Following the 1974 final, which Germany won 2-1, Van Hanegem articulated his deep-seated feelings, saying, "The important thing was to beat the Germans by any score, as long as we humiliated them. They murdered my father, sister and two brothers. I am full of angst. I hate them." He was reportedly the only Dutch player to leave the field in tears after the match. In later years, however, Van Hanegem adopted a more conciliatory tone when commenting on the war, indicating an evolution in his public expression regarding the matter.
8. Honours
Willem van Hanegem achieved significant honours throughout his career as both a player and a manager.
8.1. Player honours
Feyenoord
- Eredivisie: 1968-69, 1970-71, 1973-74
- KNVB Cup: 1968-69
- European Cup: 1969-70
- Intercontinental Cup: 1970
- UEFA Cup: 1973-74
AZ'67
- KNVB Cup: 1977-78
Netherlands
- FIFA World Cup: Runner-up 1974
- UEFA European Championship: Third place 1976
- Tournoi de Paris: 1978
8.2. Managerial honours
Feyenoord
- Eredivisie: 1992-93
- KNVB Cup: 1993-94, 1994-95
8.3. Individual honours
- Dutch Footballer of the Year: 1971
- Officer in the Order of Orange-Nassau: 2024
9. Legacy and reception
Willem van Hanegem's legacy in Dutch and international football is profound, marking him as one of the sport's truly iconic figures. He is consistently lauded within the Netherlands as one of the greatest Dutch footballers ever, and for many Feyenoord supporters, he remains a club icon, comparable in stature to Johan Cruyff in Dutch football. His instrumental role as a key player in Feyenoord's 1970 European Cup triumph, which made them the first Dutch club to win the competition, cemented his place in history. Furthermore, his central contributions to the Dutch national team's "Total Football" era, particularly during the 1974 FIFA World Cup, underscore his influence on a style of play that revolutionized the sport. His distinctive playing style, characterized by tactical brilliance, exceptional passing, and formidable tenacity, combined with his outspoken personality, has ensured his enduring impact and high regard among fans and pundits alike.