Former Dutch coach Kees Rijvers has passed away at the age of 97.
The Dutchman is idolized for his brilliant coaching career in Holland as well as for his very good playing days.
Rijvers was one of the first Dutch players to continue his career in the game and won the French league in 1957 with Saint Etienne.
As a coach, he gave debuts abroad to some of the Netherlands’ most iconic players, including Marco van Basten, Ruud Gullit, Frank Rijkaard and Ronald Koeman.
Rijvers coached the national team for three-and-a-half years, overseeing 21 matches as coach of the Oranje.
But he also had his influence on the national team as a player with 33 caps and 10 goals between 1946 and 1960.
It is his managerial career at the club that is the most impressive record he holds.
Rijvers 3 Eredivise and UEFA Cup titles as coach of PSV Eindhoven.
Only one coach in the history of the Eredivisie, Bert Jacobs, has managed to win more games than Rijvers, and the tactician achieved an incredible 251 wins in his league career.
PSV paid tribute to their former coach with a statement posted on their website.
It read: “With the passing of Kees Rijvers, the club and Dutch football have lost an icon.
“PSV is thinking of all his loved ones and everyone, a lot of courage to face this wonderful loss. “
Rijvers was also coach of FC Twente for six years, from 1966 to 1972, as well as the club’s technical director from 1986 to 1989.
The Dutch team also posted an online message in tribute to their former coach.
It read: “We wish the family, friends and others of Kees Rijvers have enjoyed much strength to cope with this loss. “
Rijvers retired from control in 1994 after a brief return to PSV.
In March last year, he was knighted by the Dutch Football Association for his paintings and his influence on beautiful football in the Netherlands.
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