Erwin Koeman (born 20 September 1961) is a Dutch former professional football player who currently serves as an assistant coach for the Netherlands national team.
Born in Zaanstad, North Holland, Koeman is the son of Dutch international footballer Martin Koeman, and older brother of Ronald, who also represented the Netherlands and became a manager. All three Koemans played for Groningen at some time during their careers. Erwin Koeman's son, Len, played for the Helmond Sport youth team, but did not have a senior career.[3] A statue of the three Koemans was unveiled at Groningen's Euroborg stadium in 2021.[4]
Koeman finished his playing career with Groningen in 1998 and became youth coach at PSV.[7] In October 2001, he was promoted to assistant manager under Eric Gerets,[8] and for the 2004–05 season became manager in RKC Waalwijk. He managed RKC for one season before moving to Feyenoord.[9] In March 2006, he extended his contract to the summer 2009. However, on 3 May 2007, Koeman announced his immediate resignation due to motivational problems, after a troublesome season, where Feyenoord eventually finished seventh.[10]
Hungary
On 24 April 2008, Koeman became the coach of the Hungary national football team.[11] On his debut on 23 May, the team won 3–2 at home to European champions Greece in a friendly; the visitors had not lost since August.[12] The team failed to qualify for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, and Koeman did not win any of his last four games, the final one being a 6–1 loss to his native Netherlands in June 2010; on 23 July he was dismissed and under-20 manager Sándor Egervári promoted to his place.[13]
Return to the Netherlands
Before the 2011–12 season, Koeman was appointed as the new manager of Utrecht on a one-year deal.[14] Disputes with the board began almost immediately as Rodney Sneijder was signed without his approval; on 18 October 2011 he resigned.[15]
On 17 March 2012, Koeman was hired at FC Eindhoven, third-placed in the Eerste Divisie, after Ernest Faber crossed the city to PSV.[16] After a play-off loss to Helmond, he moved on a two-year deal back to the top flight and Waalwijk for the following season.[17] His second spell at Waalwijk ended in May 2014 with relegation after a 4–2 aggregate playoff loss to Excelsior Rotterdam.[18]
Assistant manager
On 16 June 2014, Koeman was appointed as assistant to his brother Ronald at English Premier League team Southampton.[19] The siblings moved to Everton in the same league two years later.[20] Ronald Koeman was dismissed in October 2017 with the team third from bottom, with most of his staff, including Erwin Koeman leaving with him.[21]
In February 2019, Koeman was appointed as the new head coach of Oman, succeeding fellow Netherlands national team member Pim Verbeek, who had taken the team to their first knockout stage of the AFC Asian Cup. Koeman signed a two-year deal and was tasked with qualifying the team for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in nearby Qatar.[26] He debuted on 20 March with a 5–0 win over Afghanistan in the 2019 Airmarine Cup in Kuala Lumpur,[27] followed two days later with a penalty shootout win in the final against Singapore.[28] He was fired on 16 December, after a group-stage exit as holders at the 24th Arabian Gulf Cup.[29]
In May 2022, Koeman was announced as an assistant coach to his brother Ronald at the Netherlands national team, and would commence in the role on 1 January 2023 after the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.[32]
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