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Rinus MichelsDutch footballer and coach
Date of Birth: 09.02.1928
Country:  Netherlands |
Content:
Biography of Rinus Michels
Early Life and Football CareerRinus Michels was born in Amsterdam and spent his childhood on Olympiaweg street, which is located near the Olympic Stadium. In 1940, thanks to a family friend who worked at Ajax, Michels joined the youth team of the club. However, when World War II broke out, and especially during the Dutch famine of 1944, Michels' football career faced challenges. French club Lille attempted to sign the young player, but Michels was unable to transfer to a club from another country because the Dutch army required him to complete military service first.
Playing Career
On June 9, 1946, Michels made his debut for the Ajax first team. In his debut match against ADO Den Haag, in which Ajax crushed their opponent 8-3, Michels scored five goals. From 1946 to 1958, Rinus Michels was a key player for Ajax but had to retire in 1958 due to a back injury. He played 264 matches for Ajax and scored 122 goals. Michels made his debut for the Netherlands national team on June 8, 1950, against the Swedish national team, which ended in a 4-1 defeat for the Dutch. He played a total of five matches for the national team, all resulting in defeats.
Coaching Career
Michels returned to Ajax as head coach in 1963. With him, Ajax won four league titles, three Dutch Cups, and the 1971 European Cup. During his time at Ajax, Michels revolutionized the game by implementing the "total football" tactic and the offside trap. In the latter half of 1971, he went to Spain to coach Barcelona and achieved victory in the Spanish league in 1974. In 1978, Michels returned to Ajax but only stayed as coach for one year. He was appointed as the head coach of the Netherlands national team after the team qualified for the 1974 FIFA World Cup. The Dutch team displayed impressive performances during the tournament, reaching the final after five wins and one draw, with 14 goals scored. However, they lost to the German national team in the final with a score of 1-2.
Later Career and Legacy
After his first tenure as head coach, Michels traveled to the United States, where he coached the Los Angeles Aztecs. He also worked with German Bundesliga clubs Cologne and Bayer 04. Michels concluded his coaching career as the coach of the Netherlands national team. He passed away in the Belgian city of Aalst at a local hospital after undergoing heart surgery, his second procedure after the first one in 1986. Throughout his career, Michels achieved numerous accolades and honors, including being named the Coach of the Century in the Netherlands in 1999 and receiving the UEFA Award for his lifelong contribution to football in 2002.
