Willem Leushuis

Last updated

Willem Leushuis
Personal information
Date of birth (1952-03-18) 18 March 1952 (age 73)
Place of birth Eindhoven, Netherlands
Position Midfielder
Team information
Current team
IJsselmeervogels (head coach)
Youth career
PSV
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
1970–1974 FC Eindhoven 3 (63)
1974–1977 Den Bosch '67 96 (13)
1977–1981 Wageningen 133 (11)
1981–1983 Assent
1983–1986 KTH Diest
1986–1989 KFCV Geel
1989–1992 Beringen
Managerial career
1997–2000 FC Eindhoven
2003–2005 Kozakken Boys
2005–2006 IJsselmeervogels
2006–2007 Kuwait SC
2007–2008 Hoek
2008–2010 ASWH
2011–2013 Breukelen
2013–2014 AFC
2017 DVS '33
2017–2018 IJsselmeervogels
2019–2025 OJC Rosmalen
2025– IJsselmeervogels
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Willem Leushuis (born 18 March 1952) is a Dutch football coach and former professional footballer who is the head coach of Tweede Divisie club IJsselmeervogels.

Contents

Playing career

Willem Leushuis was born in Eindhoven. A midfielder, [1] he spent his senior playing career in the Netherlands and Belgium. In the Netherlands, he represented FC Wageningen, FC Den Bosch, and FC Eindhoven, before moving abroad to Belgium, where he played for KFCV Geel, Beringen, and KTH Diest.

Coaching career

Early coaching roles

After retiring as a player, Leushuis began his coaching career at Willem II between 1992 and 1995. He served as assistant coach to Jan Reker and also held responsibility for the club's reserve team. In 1995, he was appointed head coach of Helmond Sport, a position he held until 1997. He subsequently returned to FC Eindhoven, where he managed the first team from 1997 to 2000.

International experience

Following his departure from FC Eindhoven, Leushuis gained international experience, working as a coach in the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait. During this period, he also served as a match analyst for the Scottish Football Association.

Return to the Netherlands

Leushuis returned to the Netherlands in 2003, taking charge of Kozakken Boys from 2003 to 2005, before managing IJsselmeervogels during the 2005–06 season. He then returned briefly to the Middle East in 2006–07.

Upon his return to Dutch football, Leushuis managed a succession of clubs at semi-professional level, including HSV Hoek (2007–08), ASWH (2008–10), [2] FC Breukelen (2011–13), and AFC (2013–14). [3]

Kuwait Football Association

In January 2015, at the age of 62, Leushuis moved to Kuwait, where he was appointed technical director of the Kuwait Football Association and head coach of the Kuwaiti Olympic team. Under his tenure, the Olympic side recorded victories over Oman, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, before finishing as runners-up after losing the final to Saudi Arabia.

Later career

In February 2017, Leushuis returned to the Netherlands and was appointed interim manager of DVS '33. Later that year, in August 2017, he began a second spell at IJsselmeervogels, remaining with the club for one season. In 2019, he took charge of OJC Rosmalen, where he served as head coach for six years. [4] In 2022, while managing OJC, Leushuis guided the club to promotion to the Derde Divisie after winning the post-season play-offs. [5]

In December 2025, Leushuis was appointed head coach of IJsselmeervogels for a third time, succeeding Raymond Bronkhorst with the club positioned second from bottom in the Tweede Divisie. [6] [7]

Personal life

Willem Leushuis' brother, Hans Leushuis, is also a former professional footballer. Hans played for Willem II and VVV-Venlo.

References

  1. Willem Leushuis at WorldFootball.net
  2. "ASWH en Leushuis per direct uit elkaar" [ASWH and Leushuis part ways with immediate effect]. Ambacht.net (in Dutch). 14 December 2010. Archived from the original on 28 March 2025. Retrieved 12 December 2025.
  3. Elias, Hans (26 May 2014). "Trainer van het jaar: Willem Leushuis". AFC . Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  4. Smeur, Joris (14 November 2024). "Na zes jaar gaan OJC Rosmalen en coach Leushuis uit elkaar: 'Ik sta open voor een mooie nieuwe uitdaging'" [After six years, OJC Rosmalen and coach Leushuis go their separate ways: "I am open to an attractive new challenge"]. Brabants Dagblad (in Dutch). Retrieved 12 December 2025.
  5. Eijkelestam, Sanne (19 June 2022). "OJC Rosmalen promoveert naar derde divisie" [OJC Rosmalen secure promotion to Derde Divisie]. DTV Nieuws (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 3 December 2022. Retrieved 12 December 2025.
  6. "Willem Leushuis per direct aangesteld als nieuwe hoofdtrainer" [Willem Leushuis appointed as new head coach with immediate effect]. IJsselmeervogels (Press release) (in Dutch). 2 December 2025. Archived from the original on 12 December 2025. Retrieved 12 December 2025.
  7. Kous, Bert (2 December 2025). "Trainer Willem Leushuis terug bij IJsselmeervogels" [Coach Willem Leushuis returns to IJsselmeervogels]. RTV Utrecht (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 12 December 2025. Retrieved 12 December 2025.