Wim Jansen

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Lore & Background

Jansen's most dramatic moment at Ajax occurred during his debut against his former club, Feyenoord, in December 1980 at De Kuip. During the warm-up, a fan threw an icy snowball that struck Jansen in the eye, forcing him to be substituted within 20 minutes of the match starting. Despite this rocky start, he secured the Eredivisie title with Ajax in the 1981–82 season. Earlier in his career, as captain of Feyenoord, he led the team to victory against Tottenham Hotspur (4–2 on aggregate) to win the UEFA Cup in 1974. Internationally, Jansen was a central figure for the Netherlands, playing all seven games in the 1974 and 1978 World Cup finals where they finished runners-up. He notably committed the foul on Bernd Hölzenbein in 1974 that led to Paul Breitner's equalizing penalty against West Germany.

In Their Own Story

The bond between Jansen and Willem van Hanegem was legendary, described by Jansen as a "blind communication." Van Hanegem noted that he received all the "smart balls" from Jansen, praising his versatility: "Wim could play anywhere, just not in goal. He was too small for that." Standing at 1.65 meters (5'5"), Jansen relied on tenacity and pace to form a formidable midfield trio with Van Hanegem and Johan Neeskens at the national team, or with Franz Hasil and Van Hanegem at Feyenoord. His intelligence was so highly regarded that Ajax teammate Wim Kieft called him the "perfect professional," while legend Johan Cruyff considered Jansen one of only four men worth paying attention to when discussing football. Even in 1970, he scored a crucial goal against A.C. Milan to help overturn a first-leg deficit, opening a 2–0 home win that saw Feyenoord reach the European Cup final.

Reader's Guide

Wim Jansen's career offers a masterclass in adaptability and tactical intelligence. As a player, he operated primarily as a defensive or central midfielder but could cover any position in defense, including full-back or sweeper. His physical stature did not limit his impact; instead, his ability to break up attacks and cover teammates defined his style. In management, Jansen returned to Feyenoord in 1991, winning the KNVB Cup in consecutive seasons (1990–91 and 1991–92) despite the club's financial struggles. He later made history at Celtic, becoming their first manager from outside Great Britain and Ireland when appointed on 3 July 1997. There, he ended Rangers' hopes of a tenth consecutive title by guiding Celtic to the Scottish Premier Division crown in 1997–98, also securing the League Cup. His signing of Henrik Larsson remains a notable transfer from his tenure. Jansen's career was marked by both triumphs and tragedies, including his diagnosis with dementia in late 2021 and his death by euthanasia on 25 January 2022.

Did You Know?

• Jansen stood only 1.65 meters (5'5") tall, yet Van Hanegem noted he was "too small" only for the goalkeeper position.
• During his Ajax debut in December 1980, a fan threw an icy snowball at Jansen's eye during warm-ups, leading to his substitution within 20 minutes.
• Jansen played all seven games for the Netherlands in both the 1974 and 1978 World Cup finals where they finished as runners-up.
• He was appointed Celtic's first manager from outside Great Britain and Ireland on 3 July 1997, winning the league title in his only season there.
• In January 2024, Jansen's son revealed that he died by euthanasia following a dementia diagnosis announced in late 2021.