Arie Haan
Arie Bombarie: The midfielder who mastered the long-range strike and total football.
Arend "Arie" Haan is a Dutch football legend born in 1948, renowned as a midfielder whose long-range shooting and tactical versatility defined an era. He scored six goals in thirty-five appearances for the Netherlands national team, famously striking from distance against top goalkeepers like Dino Zoff and Sepp Maier. At club level, Haan anchored AFC Ajax to three consecutive European Cups (1971–1973) alongside Johan Neeskens and Gerrie Muhren. His career spanned successful spells at R.S.C. Anderlecht, Standard Liège, and PSV Eindhoven before he retired as a player in Hong Kong with Seiko SA.
- Role
- Midfielder
- Affiliation
- AFC Ajax
- Era
- 1967–1973
- Major Honours with Club
- 3 European Cups, 2 European Super Cups, 3 Eredivisie titles, 3 KNVB Cups, 1 Inte
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
Haan joined AFC Ajax in 1967, making his official debut on 23 May 1968. He quickly became a vital part of the squad that dominated Europe, winning three consecutive European Cups from 1971 to 1973, plus the Intercontinental Cup in 1972 and two European Super Cups in 1972 and 1973. Domestically, he secured three Eredivisie titles (1969–70, 1971–72, 1972–73) and the Dutch Cup from 1970 to 1972. His versatility allowed him to play as a central midfielder, defensive midfielder, center-back, or even sweeper when teammates like Barry Hulshoff were injured. Known for his stamina and tenacity, he partnered with Ludo Coeck at Anderlecht after joining the Belgian club in 1975, where they won two European Cup Winners' Cups in 1976 and 1978.
In Their Own Story
During the 1978 FIFA World Cup second group stage match against Italy, Haan scored a legendary 40-yard strike past goalkeeper Dino Zoff. Earlier that tournament, his powerful long-range shot helped secure a 2–2 draw against West Germany, propelling the Netherlands to the final where they lost 3–1 to Argentina in extra time. He had previously reached another World Cup final in 1974, losing to West Germany 2–1. His nickname "Arie Bombarie" stemmed from his ability to score from far out, with two famous goals in that single 1978 tournament against world-class keepers Sepp Maier and Dino Zoff.
Reader's Guide
Haan's playing career was marked by immediate success at Ajax, where he won the Double in 1970 and the Treble in 1972. After leaving for Anderlecht in 1975, he helped the club reach a Cup Winners' Cup final in 1977 before winning it twice (1976, 1978). He later moved to Standard Liège, where he won two Belgian championships and reached another Cup Winners' Cup final in 1982. His final playing season was with PSV Eindhoven in 1983–84, followed by a stint with Hong Kong champions Seiko SA. Internationally, Haan earned 35 caps for the Netherlands, scoring 6 goals, and remains one of the few players to reach two World Cup finals (1974, 1978).
Did You Know?
- Haan was nicknamed "Arie Bombarie" due to his powerful long-range shots.
- He scored two famous goals from distance in the 1978 World Cup against goalkeepers Sepp Maier and Dino Zoff.
- Haan participated in seven European club competition finals, winning five and losing two.
- He played as a sweeper for the Netherlands national team when regular defenders were injured.
- After retiring as a player, Haan managed national teams including China, Cameroon, and Albania.
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