Rob Witschge
Dutch footballer (born 1966)
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Robert Witschge (born 22 August 1966) is a Dutch former professional footballer who played as a midfielder.
|
Witschge in 2012 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Robert Witschge | ||
| Date of birth | 22 August 1966 | ||
| Place of birth | Amsterdam, Netherlands | ||
| Height | 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in) | ||
| Position | Midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| SDW | |||
| Ajax | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1985–1989 | Ajax | 92 | (13) |
| 1989–1990 | Saint-Étienne | 51 | (11) |
| 1991–1996 | Feyenoord | 160 | (25) |
| 1996–1997 | Utrecht | 29 | (1) |
| 1998–1999 | Ittihad | ||
| Total | 332 | (50) | |
| International career | |||
| 1989–1995 | Netherlands | 30 | (3) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2001–2002 | Haarlem (assistant) | ||
| 2002–2004 | ADO'20 | ||
| 2004–2008 | Netherlands (assistant) | ||
| 2008–2009 | Ajax (assistant) | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
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 four 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.[1]
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[2] and the 1994 FIFA World Cup.
Personal life
Career statistics
International
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Netherlands | 1989 | 3 | 0 |
| 1990 | 0 | 0 | |
| 1991 | 0 | 0 | |
| 1992 | 12 | 1 | |
| 1993 | 3 | 2 | |
| 1994 | 11 | 0 | |
| 1995 | 1 | 0 | |
| Total | 30 | 3 | |
- Scores and results list Netherlands' goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Witschge goal.
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 18 June 1992 | Nya Ullevi, Gothenburg, Sweden |  Germany | 2–0 | 3–1 | UEFA Euro 1992 |
| 2 | 24 February 1993 | Stadion Galgenwaard, Utrecht, Netherlands |  Turkey | 2–1 | 3–1 | 1994 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 3 | 3–1 |