Kees Rijvers has passed away at the age of 97. – Photo: National Archives
The KNVB has learned with sadness regarding the death of Kees Rijvers. The former international and former national coach of the Dutch national team has turned 97 years old. Rijvers played 33 international matches from 1946 to 1960, scoring ten times. From 1981 to 1984 he returned to the Dutch national team, this time as national coach.
The Golden Inner Trio, that is how the attackers Faas Wilkes, Abe Lenstra and Kees Rijvers were affectionately called in the 1950s. And that was no wonder; they played together in the Dutch team ten times, only losing once. Rijvers, who was known as a ball virtuoso, eventually played 33 international matches. A number that might have been much higher, but because he earned his living at the French Saint-Étienne, he was not called up for the Dutch team for years. Professional football had not yet been introduced in the Netherlands at the time, which is why players with the desire to become professionals opted for an adventure abroad. Kees Rijvers achieved eternal fame at Saint-Étienne during this period, including by winning the national title in France.
Return to Orange
From October 15, 1950 to September 11, 1957, Rijvers did not play a single match for the Dutch national team. But immediately following his return to the Netherlands at Feyenoord, he was selected once more, following which he wore the Oranje shirt thirteen more times in the three years that followed. The match once morest Suriname on July 3, 1960 turned out to be his last international match. Not least because Rijvers left for France once more in the summer of 1960.
After his active career, which he ended at NAC Breda in 1963, Rijvers started working as a trainer. After two years as an assistant at Willem II, the former international thought it was time to stand on his own two feet. FC Twente offered him that opportunity and he would not regret it. With Rijvers at the helm, the Tukkers developed into a challenger to the top in the Netherlands.
This development did not go unnoticed by the top clubs and it was PSV that responded. In 1972, Rijvers was appointed head coach of the club. In Eindhoven the coach stringed together the prizes. In the years that followed, the trophy cabinet was filled with three national titles, two KNVB Cups and the UEFA Cup.
— Photo: Kees Rijvers (right) played 33 times for the Dutch national team, scoring 10 goals.
National coach of the Dutch national team
After a short adventure at Belgian FC Beringen, Rijvers was appointed national coach of the Dutch team in 1981, succeeding Jan Zwartkruis, who had resigned. After just missing the 1982 World Cup due to a 2-0 defeat in the last World Cup qualifying match once morest France, the European Championship in 1984 was also not reached. This was partly ‘thanks’ to Spain’s 12-1 victory once morest Malta, which allowed the Southern Europeans Rijvers and co. narrowly missed out on goal difference.
Yet Rijvers’ period with the Dutch national team might certainly not be dismissed as a failed episode. As national coach, he was responsible for the blueprint of the Dutch national team that became European champions in 1988. Of the team that, following his departure – in October 1984 – won the first prize ever won by the Dutch team four years later, the coach allowed nine to make their debut. Ruud Gullit, Marco van Basten, Frank Rijkaard and Ronald Koeman, among others, came into action for the first time in the Dutch team during his period in office.
— Photo: Kees Rijvers allowed Ruud Gullit and Marco van Basten to make their debuts in the Dutch team.
Lifetime award and federal knighthood
After Rijvers left the Dutch team in October 1984, the coach continued to be technical director at FC Twente for several years. In the early 1990s, he briefly worked as an interim coach at PSV, where he was succeeded in 1994 by Dick Advocaat. Ten years later, in 2004, Rijvers received the lifetime achievement award from Rinus Michels for his entire coaching career. It was the very first edition of the Rinus Michels Award and the namesake of the award insisted that it should go to Kees Rijvers.
Kees Rijvers will go down in history as someone who, as a player, trainer and national coach, had a major influence on the development and success of Dutch football. This was once once more underlined last year with the award of federal knighthood from the KNVB. Just Spee, chairman of the KNVB, said at the time: “The life story of Kees Rijvers also largely tells the story of Dutch football. During his active period he has had a significant share in developments within the football landscape that have had a lasting impact on club football and the national team.” In addition to his abilities in football, national coach Ronald Koeman also praised his “fatherly interaction” with players. A characterization that, just like his football qualities, has been a common thread through his career.
With the death of Kees Rijvers, the oldest living ex-international and ex-national coach has passed away. The KNVB wishes his family and friends a lot of strength to bear this great loss.
— Photo: Kees Rijvers has been decorated as a federal knight of the KNVB in 2023.
