Full name Robert Witschge 1985–1989 Ajax Position Midfielder Years Team Height 1.81 m | Playing position Role Footballer Name Rob Witschge | |
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Date of birth (1966-08-22) 22 August 1966 (age 49) Profiles | ||
Place of birth Amsterdam, Netherlands | ||
DVS'33 ERMELO C1 clinic Frank de Boer & Rob Witschge
Robert "Rob" Witschge (born 22 August 1966) is a Dutch retired footballer who played as a midfielder.
Contents
- DVS33 ERMELO C1 clinic Frank de Boer Rob Witschge
- Club career
- International career
- Personal life
- References
He played most of his 14-year professional career with Feyenoord, but started out at Ajax, amassing Eredivisie totals of 309 games and 39 goals.
Witschge represented the Dutch national team in one World Cup and one European Championship.
Club career
Born in Amsterdam, North-Holland, Witschge started his professional career with local AFC 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 AS Saint-Étienne in July 1989 but, unsettled, returned home in January 1991 with Feyenoord, helping the Rotterdam side win three Dutch Cups, one Supercup and the 1992–93 Eredivisie.
After one weak final year with Feyenoord – 13 games, no goals – the 30-year-old moved to FC Utrecht, retiring in 1999 after one season with Saudi Arabia's Ittihad FC. In 2001 Witschge took up coaching, being named assistant of Marco van Basten and John van 't Schip at the national team in 2004. Four years later he rejoined the pair at Ajax, again as assistant.
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 gain 31 caps (three goals) and represent the nation at UEFA Euro 1992 and the 1994 FIFA World Cup.
Personal life
Witschge's younger brother, Richard, was also a footballer and a midfielder.