Erwin Koeman

Erwin Koeman (born 20 September 1961) is a Dutch former professional football player who currently serves as an assistant coach for the Netherlands national team.

As a midfielder, he played in three spells at Groningen and two at PSV Eindhoven, as well as winning national and European trophies at Mechelen in Belgium. He earned 31 caps for the Netherlands between 1983 and 1994, being part of the team that won UEFA Euro 1988 and played at the 1990 FIFA World Cup.

Koeman managed Feyenoord, RKC Waalwijk (twice) and Utrecht in the Eredivisie, as well as the national teams of Hungary and Oman. He also served as an assistant manager to his younger brother Ronald Koeman at Premier League clubs Southampton and Everton, and the Netherlands national team.

Personal life
Born in Zaanstad, North Holland, Koeman is the son of Dutch international footballer Martin Koeman, and older brother of Ronald, who also represented the Netherlands and became a manager. All three Koemans played for Groningen at some time during their careers. Erwin Koeman's son, Len, played for the Helmond Sport youth team, but did not have a senior career. A statue of the three Koemans was unveiled at Groningen's Euroborg stadium in 2021.

Playing career
A midfielder, Koeman played with Groningen, Mechelen – where he won the Belgian League in 1989 and 1988 Cup Winners' Cup during the team's heyday – and PSV, where they became league champions in 1990–91 and 1991–92.

Koeman was part of the Netherlands team that won the UEFA Euro 1988 competition, and also featured in the 1990 FIFA World Cup. In total, he was capped 31 times, scoring twice between 1983 and 1994.

Early career
Koeman finished his playing career with Groningen in 1998 and became youth coach at PSV. In October 2001, he was promoted to assistant manager under Eric Gerets, and for the 2004–05 season became manager in RKC Waalwijk. He managed RKC for one season before moving to Feyenoord. In March 2006, he extended his contract to the summer 2009. However, on 3 May 2007, Koeman announced his immediate resignation due to motivational problems, after a troublesome season, where Feyenoord eventually finished seventh.

Hungary
On 24 April 2008, Koeman became the coach of the Hungary national football team. On his debut on 23 May, the team won 3–2 at home to European champions Greece in a friendly; the visitors had not lost since August. The team failed to qualify for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, and Koeman did not win any of his last four games, the final one being a 6–1 loss to his native Netherlands in June 2010; on 23 July he was dismissed and under-20 manager Sándor Egervári promoted to his place.

Return to the Netherlands
Before the 2011–12 season, Koeman was appointed as the new manager of Utrecht on a one-year deal. Disputes with the board began almost immediately as Rodney Sneijder was signed without his approval; on 18 October 2011 he resigned.

On 17 March 2012, Koeman was hired at FC Eindhoven, third-placed in the Eerste Divisie, after Ernest Faber crossed the city to PSV. After a play-off loss to Helmond, he moved on a two-year deal back to the top flight and Waalwijk for the following season. His second spell at Waalwijk ended in May 2014 with relegation after a 4–2 aggregate playoff loss to Excelsior Rotterdam.

Assistant manager
On 16 June 2014, Koeman was appointed as assistant to his brother Ronald at English Premier League team Southampton. The siblings moved to Everton in the same league two years later. Ronald Koeman was dismissed in October 2017 with the team third from bottom, with most of his staff, including Erwin Koeman leaving with him.

On 3 August 2018, Koeman became compatriot Phillip Cocu's assistant at Fenerbahçe. Cocu was dismissed at the end of October with the team in 15th in the Süper Lig, and Koeman became caretaker manager, debuting on 2 November with a 2–2 draw at Galatasaray in the Intercontinental Derby. He helped the team into the knockout stages of the UEFA Europa League, before the appointment of Ersun Yanal on 14 December.

Oman
In February 2019, Koeman was appointed as the new head coach of Oman, succeeding fellow Netherlands national team member Pim Verbeek, who had taken the team to their first knockout stage of the AFC Asian Cup. Koeman signed a two-year deal and was tasked with qualifying the team for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in nearby Qatar. He debuted on 20 March with a 5–0 win over Afghanistan in the 2019 Airmarine Cup in Kuala Lumpur, followed two days later with a penalty shootout win in the final against Singapore. He was fired on 16 December, after a group-stage exit as holders at the 24th Arabian Gulf Cup.

Later career
In June 2021, Koeman was appointed as manager of Beitar Jerusalem in the Israeli Premier League. He had played with their sporting director, Eli Ohana, at Mechelen. He resigned six months later, with his last game being a 2–0 loss at Bnei Sakhnin.

In May 2022, Koeman was announced as an assistant coach to his brother Ronald at the Netherlands national team, and would commence in the role on 1 January 2023 after the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

Honours
KV Mechelen 


 * Belgian First Division: 1988–89
 * Belgian Cup: 1986–87 (winners), 1990–91 (runners-up), 1991–92 (runners-up) 
 * European Cup Winners Cup: 1987–88 (winners)
 * European Super Cup: 1988
 * Amsterdam Tournament: 1989
 * Joan Gamper Trophy: 1989 
 * Jules Pappaert Cup: 1990

PSV  Netherlands
 * Eredivisie: 1990–91, 1991–92
 * Johan Cruyff Shield: 1992
 * UEFA European Championship: 1988 (winners)