Jan de Koning
Encyclopedia
Jan de Koning is a Dutch footballer
, scout
and manager
. He played as a forward. After working as assistant technical director at Liverpool FC's Academy he now scouts for Portsmouth F.C.
in Europe.
, Lokeren, and Cercle Brugge. De Koning also regularly played for the Netherlands U18
and U21 national teams
. During his career de Koning played with many of renowned players such as Johan Cruyff
, Ruud Krol
, Johan Neeskens
, Arie Haan and Johnny Rep.
After his playing career de Koning spent time in his family’s scrap
metal business while achieving his coaching
qualifications in the Netherlands. In 1990, after receiving all of his qualifications, de Koning was asked to join Ajax by Louis van Gaal
to develop young talent. During his time at Ajax he trained some internationally known players such as Wesley Sneijder
, Rafael van der Vaart
, Johnny Heitinga and Dave Van den Bergh
. Van der Vaart later stated in a Dutch TV interview that de Koning was the best coach he ever had.
. Chivu was bought by Ajax on de Koning's recommendation for 2.5 million euros and later sold to AS Roma for 20 million euros. In 2002, the English Premier League came calling for de Koning, who scouted for Sunderland
, Newcastle United, and for Ray Clarke
at Southampton.
) and Ettifaq FC (Saudi Arabia
).
In 2005, the Stoke City F.C.
board appointed Arnor Gudjohnsen to find a new manager. His nomination was Jan de Koning, but he did not want to be No 1, so suggested his friend, the former Holland midfielder Johan Boskamp
. de Koning served as assistant manager under Boskamp. De Koning was twice suspended by Stoke due to disagreements within the management team. He was sacked by Stoke in April 2006.
During 2006 de Koning once again worked with Ray Clarke
, serving as head scout for Celtic F.C.
, until 2007 when he joined Piet Hamburg at Liverpool's Academy. He is now scouting for Portsmouth, concentrating on Holland, Belgium
and Germany
.
Football in the Netherlands
Football is the most popular Sport in the Netherlands. Football was introduced to the Netherlands by Pim Mulier in the 19th century when in 1879, at the age of 14, he founded Haarlemsche Football Club...
, scout
Scout (sport)
In professional sports, scouts are trained talent evaluators who travel extensively for the purposes of watching athletes play their chosen sports and determining whether their set of skills and talents represent what is needed by the scout's organization...
and manager
Manager (association football)
In association football, a manager is responsible for running a football club or a national team. The manager of a professional club is responsible directly to the club president. The position of manager is almost exclusively used in British football...
. He played as a forward. After working as assistant technical director at Liverpool FC's Academy he now scouts for Portsmouth F.C.
Portsmouth F.C.
Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from...
in Europe.
Player
In his playing career, de Koning served Ajax, Vitesse ArnhemVitesse Arnhem
Stichting Betaald Voetbal Vitesse is a Dutch football club from Arnhem, which was founded on 14 May 1892. Vitesse has had considerable success in the Eredivisie, and featured in the UEFA Cup competition, but has never been considered a close competitor of the top three clubs of Netherlands...
, Lokeren, and Cercle Brugge. De Koning also regularly played for the Netherlands U18
Netherlands national under-19 football team
The Netherlands national under-19 football team represents the Netherlands at this age level and is governed by the Koninklijke Nederlandse Voetbalbond — KNVB...
and U21 national teams
Netherlands national under-21 football team
The Netherlands national under-21 football team is the national under-21 team of the Netherlands and is controlled by the Royal Dutch Football Association. The team competes in the European Under-21 Championship, held every two years....
. During his career de Koning played with many of renowned players such as Johan Cruyff
Johan Cruyff
Hendrik Johannes Cruijff OON , known as Johan Cruyff, is a retired Dutch footballer and is currently the manager of the Catalan national team as well as a member of the AFC Ajax board of directors. He won the Ballon d'Or three times, in 1971, 1973 and 1974, which is a record jointly held with...
, Ruud Krol
Ruud Krol
Rudolf Jozef Krol is a retired Dutch footballer who was capped 83 times for his native country. Playing the vast majority of his career with his home town club of Ajax before traveling the world as both a player and a coach...
, Johan Neeskens
Johan Neeskens
Johannes Jacobus "Johan" Neeskens is a Dutch football manager and former midfielder. As a player, he was an important member of the Dutch national team that finished as runners-up in the 1974 and 1978 FIFA World Cups. Former England manager Alf Ramsey said Neeskens was "as good as any player" in...
, Arie Haan and Johnny Rep.
After his playing career de Koning spent time in his family’s scrap
Scrap
Scrap is a term used to describe recyclable and other materials left over from every manner of product consumption, such as parts of vehicles, building supplies, and surplus materials. Unlike waste, scrap has significant monetary value...
metal business while achieving his coaching
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
qualifications in the Netherlands. In 1990, after receiving all of his qualifications, de Koning was asked to join Ajax by Louis van Gaal
Louis van Gaal
Aloysius Paulus Maria "Louis" van Gaal OON is a Dutch football manager formerly in charge of Ajax, Netherlands, Barcelona, AZ and Bayern Munich...
to develop young talent. During his time at Ajax he trained some internationally known players such as Wesley Sneijder
Wesley Sneijder
Wesley Sneijder is a Dutch footballer playing as an attacking midfielder for Internazionale. He was named UEFA midfielder of the season as well as one of the three best midfielders in the world for 2010 by FIFA....
, Rafael van der Vaart
Rafael van der Vaart
Rafael Ferdinand van der Vaart is a Dutch footballer who plays for English Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur and the Dutch national team. His preferred position is as an attacking midfielder; he can, however, also operate in other positions, such as second striker...
, Johnny Heitinga and Dave Van den Bergh
Dave van den Bergh
Dave van den Bergh is a former Dutch footballer who last played for FC Dallas in Major League Soccer. He is currently an assistant coach for the United States U-20.-Europe:...
. Van der Vaart later stated in a Dutch TV interview that de Koning was the best coach he ever had.
Scout
De Koning also is renowned for his eye for talent. In 1994, #10 of Top Sport Group, and later ISM International brought him in as a talent scout. During the following eight years de Koning oversaw the transfer of several big-name players between clubs, notably Cristian ChivuCristian Chivu
Cristian Eugen Chivu is a Romanian footballer. He currently plays for Internazionale of the Italian Serie A. He usually plays as a left back but can play as a center back as well as in defensive midfield when needed....
. Chivu was bought by Ajax on de Koning's recommendation for 2.5 million euros and later sold to AS Roma for 20 million euros. In 2002, the English Premier League came calling for de Koning, who scouted for Sunderland
Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
, Newcastle United, and for Ray Clarke
Ray Clarke
Ray Clarke is an English retired professional footballer who played in England for Tottenham Hotspur, Swindon Town, Mansfield Town, Brighton and Newcastle United, in the Netherlands for Sparta Rotterdam and Ajax, and in Belgium for Club Brugge.Clarke was chief international scout for Scottish side...
at Southampton.
Manager
Later in 2003, de Koning was yet again asked for help, this time from ex-Ajax footballer Piet Hamburg. Over the next two years, Hamburg and de Koning managed Al Jazira Club (United Arab EmiratesUnited Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates, abbreviated as the UAE, or shortened to "the Emirates", is a state situated in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman, and Saudi Arabia, and sharing sea borders with Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Iran.The UAE is a...
) and Ettifaq FC (Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
).
In 2005, the Stoke City F.C.
Stoke City F.C.
Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts...
board appointed Arnor Gudjohnsen to find a new manager. His nomination was Jan de Koning, but he did not want to be No 1, so suggested his friend, the former Holland midfielder Johan Boskamp
Johan Boskamp
Johannes Boskamp is a Dutch football manager, his most recent job was in Belgium managing KSK Beveren, but he was dismissed in late December 2009-Career:...
. de Koning served as assistant manager under Boskamp. De Koning was twice suspended by Stoke due to disagreements within the management team. He was sacked by Stoke in April 2006.
During 2006 de Koning once again worked with Ray Clarke
Ray Clarke
Ray Clarke is an English retired professional footballer who played in England for Tottenham Hotspur, Swindon Town, Mansfield Town, Brighton and Newcastle United, in the Netherlands for Sparta Rotterdam and Ajax, and in Belgium for Club Brugge.Clarke was chief international scout for Scottish side...
, serving as head scout for Celtic F.C.
Celtic F.C.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...
, until 2007 when he joined Piet Hamburg at Liverpool's Academy. He is now scouting for Portsmouth, concentrating on Holland, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
and Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
Senior career
- 1968–1970 AFC Ajax Amsterdam
- 1970–1971 Vitesse Arnhem
- 1971–1973 A.F.C. Ajax Amsterdam
- 1973–1978 Lokeren
- 1978-1980 Cercle Brugge