Arnold Mühren
Encyclopedia
Arnold Johannes Hyacinthus Mühren (born 2 June 1951 in Volendam
, Noord-Holland) is a Dutch
football manager and former midfielder
. His older brother Gerrie
, also a midfield player, won three European Cup titles with Ajax in the early 1970s. Mühren is among the few players to have won all three major UEFA
-organised club competitions, the European Cup
(1972–73), the Cup Winners' Cup
(1986–87) and the UEFA Cup
(1980–81). The last of which was won with Ipswich Town
, while the other titles were all won while playing for Ajax.
, Mühren moved to Ajax Amsterdam in 1971. He had his first domestic success with FC Twente
, winning the KNVB Cup
in 1977. A year later he moved to Ipswich Town
in England for a fee of £150,000; in the same year he made his international debut in a 4–0 win against Tunisia
. He was part of the successful Ipswich team that won the 1981 UEFA Cup
. In 1982 he transferred to Manchester United
. He helped United win the 1983 FA Cup Final
by scoring a penalty in the replay, and left the club after the 1985 FA Cup Final
, in which United defeated Everton. He did not feature in the match squad for the 1985 final.
He was one of the few players from outside the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland
playing in English football in that era.
After his stay in England, Mühren returned to Ajax, where he added the European Cup Winners' Cup
(1986–87) to his trophy collection. At the age of 37, he achieved the highlight of his career, when he was a vital part of the Dutch national team
that won the European Championships
in 1988. In the final against the Soviet Union he provided the cross from which Marco van Basten scored the second goal (considered one of the greatest volleyed goals of all time).
Twente
Ipswich Town
Manchester United
Volendam
Volendam is a town in North Holland in the Netherlands, in the municipality of Edam-Volendam. The town has about 22,000 inhabitants .- History :...
, Noord-Holland) is a Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
football manager and former midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
. His older brother Gerrie
Gerrie Mühren
Gerardus Demonicus Hyacinthus Mühren is a former Dutch international footballer.He started his career at FC Volendam, before moving to play for Ajax between 1968 and 1976...
, also a midfield player, won three European Cup titles with Ajax in the early 1970s. Mühren is among the few players to have won all three major UEFA
UEFA
The Union of European Football Associations , almost always referred to by its acronym UEFA is the administrative and controlling body for European association football, futsal and beach soccer....
-organised club competitions, the European Cup
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
(1972–73), the Cup Winners' Cup
UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
The UEFA Cup Winners' Cup was a football club competition contested annually by the most recent winners of all European domestic cup competitions. The cup is one of the many inter-European club competitions that have been organised by UEFA. The first competition was held in the 1960–61 season—but...
(1986–87) and the UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
(1980–81). The last of which was won with Ipswich Town
Ipswich Town F.C.
Ipswich Town Football Club are an English professional football team based in Ipswich, Suffolk. As of 2011, they play in the Football League Championship, having last appeared in the Premier League in 2001–02....
, while the other titles were all won while playing for Ajax.
Career
After starting his career at FC VolendamFC Volendam
Football Club Volendam is a Dutch football club based in Volendam, North Holland, Edam-Volendam. Founded on June 1, 1977, as a result of a split up with RKSV . It currently plays in the Eerste Divisie, holding home games at Kras Stadion, with a 6,260-seat capacity.-History:Football Club Volendam...
, Mühren moved to Ajax Amsterdam in 1971. He had his first domestic success with FC Twente
FC Twente
FC Twente is a Dutch professional football club from the city of Enschede, playing in the Eredivisie. The club was formed in 1965 by the merger of 1926 Eredivisie Champions, Sportclub Enschede and Enschedese Boys...
, winning the KNVB Cup
KNVB Cup
The KNVB Cup is a competition in the Netherlands organized by the Royal Dutch Football Association since 1899. It was based on the format of the English FA Cup. Outside of the Netherlands, it is often referred to as the Dutch Cup...
in 1977. A year later he moved to Ipswich Town
Ipswich Town F.C.
Ipswich Town Football Club are an English professional football team based in Ipswich, Suffolk. As of 2011, they play in the Football League Championship, having last appeared in the Premier League in 2001–02....
in England for a fee of £150,000; in the same year he made his international debut in a 4–0 win against Tunisia
Tunisia national football team
The Tunisia national football team , nicknamed Les Aigles de Carthage , is the national team of Tunisia and is controlled by the Fédération Tunisienne de Football. They have qualified for four FIFA World Cups, the first one in 1978, but have yet to make it out of the first round...
. He was part of the successful Ipswich team that won the 1981 UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
. In 1982 he transferred to Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
. He helped United win the 1983 FA Cup Final
1983 FA Cup Final
The 1983 FA Cup Final was contested by Manchester United and Brighton & Hove Albion at Wembley Stadium.Manchester United were the favourites, as Brighton had been relegated from the First Division that season...
by scoring a penalty in the replay, and left the club after the 1985 FA Cup Final
1985 FA Cup Final
The 1985 FA Cup Final was contested by Manchester United and holders Everton at Wembley Stadium. United won by a single goal, scored in extra time by Norman Whiteside....
, in which United defeated Everton. He did not feature in the match squad for the 1985 final.
He was one of the few players from outside the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
playing in English football in that era.
After his stay in England, Mühren returned to Ajax, where he added the European Cup Winners' Cup
UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
The UEFA Cup Winners' Cup was a football club competition contested annually by the most recent winners of all European domestic cup competitions. The cup is one of the many inter-European club competitions that have been organised by UEFA. The first competition was held in the 1960–61 season—but...
(1986–87) to his trophy collection. At the age of 37, he achieved the highlight of his career, when he was a vital part of the Dutch national team
Netherlands national football team
The Netherlands National Football Team represents the Netherlands in association football and is controlled by the Royal Dutch Football Association , the governing body for football in the Netherlands...
that won the European Championships
UEFA European Football Championship
The UEFA European Football Championship is the main football competition of the men's national football teams governed by UEFA . Held every four years since 1960, in the even-numbered year between World Cup tournaments, it was originally called the UEFA European Nations Cup, changing to the current...
in 1988. In the final against the Soviet Union he provided the cross from which Marco van Basten scored the second goal (considered one of the greatest volleyed goals of all time).
Club
Ajax- EredivisieEredivisieThe Eredivisie is the highest football league in the Netherlands. The league was founded in 1956 two years after the start of professional football in the Netherlands. It is currently ranked the ninth best league in Europe by UEFA....
(2): 1971–72, 1972–73 - Dutch Cup (3): 1971–72KNVB Cup 1971–72The 54th edition of the KNVB Cup started on January 9, 1972. The final was played on May 11, 1972: Ajax beat FC Den Haag 3–2 and won the cup for the seventh time.-Teams:* All 18 participants of the Eredivisie 1971–72...
, 1985–86, 1986–87KNVB Cup 1986–87The 69th edition of the KNVB Cup started on October 11, 1986. The final was played on June 5, 1987: Ajax beat FC Den Haag 4–2 and won the cup for the eleventh time.-Teams:* All 18 participants of the Eredivisie 1986-87... - European CupUEFA Champions LeagueThe UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
(2): 1971–721972 European Cup FinalThe 1972 European Cup Final was a football match held at De Kuip, Rotterdam, on 31 May 1972, that saw Ajax of the Netherlands defeat Internazionale of Italy 2-0. Two second-half goals from Johan Cruyff gave Ajax their second success in the competition, after their 1971 victory...
, 1972–731973 European Cup FinalThe 1973 European Cup Final was a football match held at the Red Star Stadium, Belgrade, on 30 May 1973, in which Ajax of the Netherlands defeated Juventus of Italy 1–0. A single goal from Johnny Rep four minutes into the match was enough for Ajax to claim their third consecutive European Cup... - European Cup Winners' Cup (1): 1986–87
- European Super Cup (2): 19721972 European Super CupThe 1972 European Super Cup was a football match played over two legs between the winner of the 1971–72 European Cup and the winner of the 1971–72 European Cup Winners' Cup...
(unofficial), 1973 - Intercontinental CupIntercontinental Cup (football)The European/South American Cup, commonly referred to as the World Club Championship, Intercontinental Cup or Toyota Cup, was a football competition endorsed by UEFA and CONMEBOL, contested between the winners of the European Cup and the South American Copa Libertadores...
(1): 19721972 Intercontinental CupThe 1972 Intercontinental Cup was a football tie held over two legs in September 1972 between the winners of the 1971–72 European Cup, Ajax, and winners of the 1972 Copa Libertadores, Independiente....
Twente
- Dutch Cup (1): 1976–77KNVB Cup 1976–77The 59th edition of the KNVB Cup started on October 10, 1976. The final was played on May 19, 1977: FC Twente beat PEC Zwolle 3–0 and won the cup for the first time.-Teams:...
Ipswich Town
- UEFA CupUEFA CupThe UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
(1): 1980–811981 UEFA Cup FinalThe 1981 UEFA Cup Final was the two-legged final of the 1980–81 UEFA Cup, the tenth season of the UEFA Cup, UEFA's second-tier club football tournament. The matches were contested between Ipswich Town of England and AZ Alkmaar of the Netherlands; despite losing the second leg of the final 4–2,...
Manchester United
- FA CupFA CupThe Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
(2): 1982–831983 FA Cup FinalThe 1983 FA Cup Final was contested by Manchester United and Brighton & Hove Albion at Wembley Stadium.Manchester United were the favourites, as Brighton had been relegated from the First Division that season...
, 1984–851985 FA Cup FinalThe 1985 FA Cup Final was contested by Manchester United and holders Everton at Wembley Stadium. United won by a single goal, scored in extra time by Norman Whiteside....
International
Netherlands- European ChampionshipUEFA European Football ChampionshipThe UEFA European Football Championship is the main football competition of the men's national football teams governed by UEFA . Held every four years since 1960, in the even-numbered year between World Cup tournaments, it was originally called the UEFA European Nations Cup, changing to the current...
(1): 1988UEFA Euro 1988 FinalThe UEFA Euro 1988 Final was a football match played on 25 June 1988 to determine the winner of UEFA Euro 1988. The match was contested by the Soviet Union, playing in what would turn out to be the nation's last European Championship, and the Netherlands at the Olympiastadion in Munich...
See also
- List of players to have won the three main European club competitions