Erwin van de Looi

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Erwin van de Looi
Erwinvandelooi.png
Van de Looi as manager of Groningen in 2014
Personal information
Full name Erwin van de Looi
Date of birth (1972-02-25) 25 February 1972 (age 53)
Place of birth Huissen, Netherlands
Height 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)
Position(s) Centre-back
Youth career
RKHVV
Vitesse 1892
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
1991–1997 Vitesse 133 (2)
1991–1992 → BVV Den Bosch (loan) 8 (0)
1997–1999 NAC 47 (1)
2000–2000 Stuttgarter Kickers 7 (0)
2000–2002 Groningen 19 (0)
Total214(3)
Managerial career
2008–2010 Groningen (U21)
2010–2013 Groningen (assistant)
2013–2016 Groningen
2016–2018 Willem II
2018–2023 Netherlands U21
2020 Netherlands (assistant ad int.)
2023–2025 Heracles Almelo
2025– NK Olimpija Ljubljana
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Erwin van de Looi (born 25 February 1972) is a Dutch professional football manager and former player, who is currently the Head Coach of Slovenian PrvaLiga club NK Olimpija Ljubljana.

Contents

Playing career

Van de Looi played in the youth academies of RKHVV and Vitesse 1892 and made his professional debut for second-tier Eerste Divisie club BVV Den Bosch in 1992 as a loanee. After a season, in which he made few appearances, van de Looi was given an opportunity to play by Vitesse head coach Herbert Neumann. Van de Looi impressed and made 30 appearances in his first full season at the club. He would eventually make 133 appearances for Vitesse, whom he also represented in 10 UEFA Cup matches. Van de Looi was also selected once for the Netherlands national team during his time at the club, in a practice match against Portugal. However, he did not make an appearance during the match. [1]

After five seasons, Van de Looi left for NAC before the start of the 1997–98 season. Partly due to injuries, van de Looi played relatively few games in his three seasons at NAC, with whom he also suffered relegation from the Eredivisie in 1999. In the winter break of the 1999–2000 season, van de Looi moved to German 2. Bundesliga club Stuttgarter Kickers. There, too, he could not regain his earlier form, and after another relegation he returned to the Netherlands after only six months in Germany – this time to newly promoted FC Groningen. [2] In 2002, Van de Looi decided retire from football at the age of thirty due to injuries. [3]

Managerial career

Groningen

Van de Looi started his coaching career as head coach of FC Groningen U21 in 2008. [4] Two years later, he became assistant manager of FC Groningen.

On 4 April 2013, it was announced that Van de Looi would become the new manager of the FC Groningen first team for the 2013–14 season, signing a two-year contract. [5]

During the 2014–15 season, Van de Looi led FC Groningen through their most successful ever Dutch Cup campaign as they won it for the first time in the club's history by defeating cup holders PEC Zwolle 2–0 in the final. [6] By winning the Dutch Cup, FC Groningen qualified for the 2015–16 UEFA Europa League group stages.

On 27 January 2016, it was announced that Van de Looi would leave the club at the end of the season. [7]

Willem II

On 23 May 2016, Van de Looi was announced as the new manager of Dutch football club Willem II, signing a two-year contract. [8] Before the end of the season and his contract at Willem II, supporters demanded the leave of Van de Looi through a manifesto. On 8 March 2018, Van de Looi decided to leave the club. [9]

Netherlands U21

On 21 May 2018, Van de Looi was announced as the new manager of the Netherlands national under-21 football team, signing a contract until the end of 2020 with the contract automatically being extended until the summer of 2021 if the Netherlands qualifies for the 2021 UEFA European Under-21 Championship. Van de Looi took over after Art Langeler, who moved to the position of Director of Football Development for the KNVB. [10] In August 2020, Van de Looi was temporarily added to the staff of the Netherlands national team. The U21 would be temporarily coached by Marcel Groninger, his assistant. [11]

Heracles Almelo

On 21 December 2023, Heracles Almelo appointed Van de Looi as the new head coach, replacing John Lammers. He left the club at the end of the 2024–25 season, after opting not to renew his contract. [12]

Honours

Club

FC Groningen

Managerial statistics

As of 31 August 2025.
TeamFromToRecord
GWDLGFGAGDWin %
FC Groningen 1 July 201330 June 2016128523442194183+11040.63
Willem II 1 July 20168 March 20186619143378110−32028.79
Netherlands U21 1 July 201830 June 202339231249625+71058.97
Heracles Almelo 21 December 202330 June 20255718142574104−30031.58
Olimpija 11 August 2025Present62131013−3033.33
Total29611475107452435+17038.51

References

  1. ↑ Van de Looi heeft nergens spijt van De Gelderlander
  2. ↑ Van de Looi naar FC Groningen Voetbal International
  3. ↑ Van de Looi bergt voetbalschoenen op Voetbal International
  4. ↑ "Van de Looi nieuwe trainer Beloften-team" (in Dutch). FC Groningen. 12 June 2007. Archived from the original on 13 May 2016. Retrieved 29 September 2020.
  5. ↑ "Van de Looi nieuwe hoofdtrainer FC Groningen; Lukkien assistent" (in Dutch). FC Groningen. 4 April 2013. Archived from the original on 13 May 2016. Retrieved 29 September 2020.
  6. ↑ "FC Groningen schrijft historie met winst KNVB-beker" (in Dutch). Voetbal International. 3 May 2015. Retrieved 29 September 2020.
  7. ↑ "Van de Looi verlengt contract niet bij FC Groningen" (in Dutch). FC Groningen. 27 January 2016. Archived from the original on 13 May 2016. Retrieved 29 September 2020.
  8. ↑ "Erwin van de Looi nieuwe coach Willem II" (in Dutch). Het Laatste Nieuws. 23 May 2016. Retrieved 29 September 2020.
  9. ↑ "Erwin van de Looi verlaat Willem II per direct". willem-ii.nl (in Dutch). Willem II. 8 March 2018. Archived from the original on 29 September 2020. Retrieved 29 September 2020.
  10. ↑ "Van de Looi nieuwe coach Jong Oranje" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Omroep Stichting. 21 May 2018. Archived from the original on 22 May 2018. Retrieved 29 September 2020.
  11. ↑ "Erwin van de Looi tijdelijk naar Oranje". onsoranje.nl (in Dutch). KNVB. 25 August 2020. Archived from the original on 29 September 2020. Retrieved 29 September 2020. De positie van Erwin van de Looi bij Jong Oranje zal de komende periode worden overgenomen door Marcel Groninger, die momenteel assistent van Van de Looi is.
  12. ↑ "Wegen Heracles Almelo en Erwin van de Looi scheiden na dit seizoen". Heracles Almelo (in Dutch). 2 March 2025. Archived from the original on 28 April 2025. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
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