Ronald Koeman’s exploits as a pioneering goalscoring central defender with Ajax, PSV, Barcelona and the Netherlands established him as an all-time footballing great.

One of Johan Cryuff’s most famous disciples, Koeman’s career in the dugout has not been such a stellar experience, often as much a story of endurance and resilience as it has been achievement.

Nevertheless, the 61-year-old is just two games away from winning his country’s second major international honour. Glory at Euro 2024 would add to the Euro 88 triumph Koeman was part of in his playing days.

Here’s everything you need to know about a man who shares one particularly notable moment of history with semifinal opponents England.

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What happened when Ronald Koeman played England?

Surprise package Norway complicated matters by stealing ahead in UEFA Group 2, meaning the Netherlands hosted England in a must-win encounter in qualification for the 1994 FIFA World Cup at De Kuip on October 13, 1993.

For all his history-making achievements as a player, this night is how Koeman remains burned into the brains of a certain generation of English football fans.

Before the hour, Andy Sinton played David Platt through on goal. Koeman panicked and dragged down the midfielder right on the edge of the area. Inexplicably, he was only shown a yellow card and not a red for denying a clear goal-scoring opportunity.

The chance passed England by and, to make matters worse, Koeman expertly dispatched a free-kick in a similar position at the other end of the field a few moments later. It set in motion a 2-0 win for the Dutch, who qualified at England’s expense.

Ronald Koeman: Teams coached, trophies won

Considering Koeman’s education under great football minds such as Cruyff, Guus Hiddink and Rinus Michels, anticipation was high at the start of his coaching career.

An initial stint at Vitesse, who he led to UEFA Cup qualification, saw Koeman fast-tracked to Ajax, where he won a domestic double in 2001/02. He retained the title the following season but standards in Amsterdam and his team falling behind PSV in the Eredivisie and being eliminated from the UEFA Cup by Auxerre led to him resigning under mounting pressure in February 2005.

An unsuccessful foray at Benfica preceded Koeman echoing his controversial switch from Ajax to PSV during his playing days by taking charge of the Eindhoven giants for the 2006/07 season. Despite collapsing in the second half of the season, PSV claimed the Eredivisie title on goal difference ahead of AZ and Ajax.

Koeman also claimed the notable scalp of Arsenal in that season’s Champions League before losing to Liverpool in the quarterfinals. In October 2007, Valencia came calling. Not for the last time in his career, Koeman made an ill-advised switch to Spain.

A short and unsuccessful tenure was followed by a similarly truncated stint with AZ, who were defending Dutch champions after storming to the Eredivisie under Louis van Gaal in 2008/09. 

Almost 18 months out of the game followed before Koeman was appointed by Feyenoord, meaning he completed the set of the Netherlands’ big three as he did as a player. He did not claim any major honours but it was a restorative three seasons that laid a path for time in the Premier League, first with Southampton and then less successfully with Everton.

Four months on from his October 2017 sacking on Merseyside, Koeman was handed the reins of a Dutch national team at a low ebb having failed to qualify for Euro 2016 or the 2018 World Cup. He embarked on a swift and impressive rebuilding job, which included progress to the inaugural UEFA Nations League finals, where the Netherlands beat Gareth Southgate’s England in the semifinals.

But for the coronavirus pandemic, he’d have led his nation at Euro 2020. Events accelerated, however, and when Barcelona sacked Quique Setien, the job Koeman cherished above all others presented itself. The man whose goal secured Barca’s maiden European Cup in 1992 was coming home.

The only problem was the roof was caving in, there was no money in the electricity meter and the landlords had severe cashflow problems. Barcelona were in shambles and Koeman was forced to preside over Lionel Messi’s unseemly exit. He managed to lead the Blaugrana to the 2020/21 Copa del Rey, but his card was marked long before another club great, Xavi, succeeded him.

When his old foe Van Gaal stood down at the end of the Netherlands’ 2022 World Cup campaign, Koeman had the chance to pick up some unfinished business.

Ronald Koeman: Career stats as a manager

Did Ronald Koeman’s brother play football?

Football is a family affair for the Koemans. Ronald is the son of former Netherlands international Martin Koeman and he made his debut for the national team alongside his elder brother Erwin in a 3-0 friendly loss to Sweden.

Erwin won 31 caps compared to his elder brother’s 78 despite their careers each spanning 1983 to 1994. Erwin has enjoyed a coaching career of his own but is now serving as Ronald’s assistant with the Netherlands, as he was at Southampton and Everton.