Rob Witschge
Full nameRobert Witschge
Birth date22 August 1966 (age 60)
Birth placeAmsterdam, Netherlands
Height1.81 m
PositionMidfielder
Youthclubs 1SDW
Youthclubs 2Ajax
Years 11985–1989
Clubs 1Ajax
Caps 192
Goals 113
Years 21989–1990
Clubs 2Saint-Étienne
Caps 251
Goals 211
Years 31991–1996
Clubs 3Feyenoord
Caps 3160
Goals 325
Years 41996–1997
Clubs 4Utrecht
Caps 429
Goals 41
Years 51998–1999
Clubs 5Ittihad
Totalcaps332
Totalgoals50
Nationalyears 11989–1995
Nationalteam 1Netherlands
Nationalcaps 130
Nationalgoals 13
Manageryears 12001–2002
Managerclubs 1Haarlem (assistant)
Manageryears 22002–2004
Managerclubs 2ADO'20
Manageryears 32004–2008
Managerclubs 3Netherlands (assistant)
Manageryears 42008–2009
Managerclubs 4Ajax (assistant)

Robert Witschge (born 22 August 1966) is a Dutch former professional footballer who played as a midfielder.

He spent most of his 14-year professional career with Feyenoord, but started out at Ajax, amassing Eredivisie totals of 281 matches and 39 goals.

Witschge represented the Netherlands national team in the 1994 World Cup and Euro 1992.

Club career

Born in Amsterdam, North Holland, Witschge started his professional career with local Ajax, being an undisputed starter at the age of 20 and a crucial element of the team that won the 1986–87 European Cup Winners' Cup. During three seasons, he shared teams with his sibling Richard.

Witschge joined French club Saint-Étienne in July 1989 but, unsettled, returned home in January 1991 with Feyenoord. He helped the Rotterdam side win four Dutch Cups, one Supercup and the 1992–93 Eredivisie.

After one weak final year with Feyenoord – 13 appearances, no goals – the 30-year-old moved to Utrecht, retiring in 1999 after one season with Saudi Arabia's Ittihad. In 2001, Witschge took up coaching, being named assistant of Marco van Basten and John van 't Schip at the national team in 2004; he rejoined the pair at Ajax four years later, again as assistant.[1]

International career

Witschge made his debut for the Netherlands on 4 January 1989 in a friendly against Israel (2–0 away win), going on to win 30 caps (three goals) and represent the nation at UEFA Euro 1992[2] and the 1994 FIFA World Cup.

Personal life

Witschge's younger brother, Richard, is also a former footballer and a midfielder.[3]

Rob is related to Dutch actor Cor Witschge (1925-1991); Rob's grandfather was a cousin of Cor.[4]

Career statistics

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year[5]
National teamYearAppsGoals
Netherlands198930
199000
199100
1992121
199332
1994110
199510
Total303
Scores and results list Netherlands' goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Witschge goal.
List of international goals scored by Rob Witschge[5]
No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
118 June 1992Nya Ullevi, Gothenburg, SwedenGermany2–03–1UEFA Euro 1992
224 February 1993Stadion Galgenwaard, Utrecht, NetherlandsTurkey2–13–11994 FIFA World Cup qualification
33–1

Honours

Ajax

Feyenoord[9]

References

  1. ^ "Marco van Basten new coach Ajax". AFC Ajax. 22 February 2008. Archived from the original on 1 March 2008. Retrieved 28 February 2008.
  2. ^ Serné, Marc (26 May 1992). "Feyenoorder Rob Witschge neemt plaats in van geblesseerde broer Richard; Oranje zoekt scherpte in oefencampagne" [Feyenoord man Rob Witschge takes the place of injured brother Richard; Orange seek sharpness in practice campaign] (in Dutch). NRC Handelsblad. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
  3. ^ Lang, Jack (3 December 2015). "Football's best brothers: As the Nevilles are reunited, we rank 30 of soccer's most celebrated sets of siblings". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
  4. ^ Ronald Ockhuysen (20 October 2018). "Richard Witschge: 'Een patser ben ik nooit geworden'" (in Dutch). parool.nl. Retrieved 24 December 2025.
  5. ^ "Rob Witschge - Interlands Nederlands elftal" (in Dutch). voetbalstats.nl. Retrieved 24 December 2025.
  6. ^ "Ajax seizoen 1985-86" (in Dutch). Retrieved 25 December 2025.
  7. ^ "Ajax seizoen 1986-87" (in Dutch). Retrieved 25 December 2025.
  8. ^ "Ajax seizoen 1987-88" (in Dutch). Retrieved 25 December 2025.
  9. ^ "Spelersarchief: Rob Witschge" (in Dutch). feyenoord-online.com. Retrieved 25 December 2025.