Thijs Libregts
Encyclopedia
Thijs Libregts is a Dutch
football
coach
and former player, who played professionally in the 1950s. His daughter Patricia
was one of Holland's leading water polo
players in the 1980s and 1990s.
, where he played from 1958 to 1962. From Excelsior he moved to Rotterdam's larger team Feyenoord
, where he remained until 1968. After 6 years at Feyenoord, Libregts returned to Excelsior where he played until 1972 when he announced his retirement.
in 1981–82. In 1983 Libregts moved to Feyenoord, where he won a league and cup double in his first season. At Feyenoord Libregts he was involved in a race row after he was alleged to have referred to Ruud Gullit
as "blackie" and criticised him for being lazy, though Libregts defended himself by claiming that it was merely a nickname.
In November 1984 Libregts moved to Greece
with Aris Thessaloniki
, where he remained until 1986. In the 1986/87 season he joined PAOK, but his stay was brief and in December 1987 he switched to Olympiacos. Libregts was appointed as Holland
manager in 1988 as he took over from Rinus Michels
as coach of the European champions. Holland easily qualified for the 1990 FIFA World Cup
, but Libregts was replaced by Leo Beenhakker
before the tournament itself.
From 1991 to 1994 he was a coach with Iraklis Thessaloniki in Greece and from 1994 to 1995 returned to coach Olympiacos. Having been dismissed by Olympiakos, Libregts took charge of the Nigeria national football team
in August 1998, who he managed until October 1999. After two years out of work Libregts joined Grazer AK
in October 2001 where he remained until August 2002 and whom he led to the Cup, as well as to the victory in Supercup.
In August 2002 he was replaced by Walter Schachner
and he has been without a club since then.
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
coach
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
and former player, who played professionally in the 1950s. His daughter Patricia
Patricia Libregts
Patricia Megens-Libregts is a retired water polo player from the Netherlands. She made her debut for the Women's National Team in 1984, and was on the squad that won the first official European title in women's water polo in 1985.A daughter of former football coach Thijs Libregts, she competed...
was one of Holland's leading water polo
Water polo
Water polo is a team water sport. The playing team consists of six field players and one goalkeeper. The winner of the game is the team that scores more goals. Game play involves swimming, treading water , players passing the ball while being defended by opponents, and scoring by throwing into a...
players in the 1980s and 1990s.
Club career
Libregts began his playing career at Excelsior RotterdamExcelsior Rotterdam
SBV Excelsior is a professional football club from the Kralingen-Crooswijk district of Rotterdam, Netherlands. It was founded on July 23, 1902 and was formerly known as 'Rotterdamse Voetbal en Atletiek Vereniging Excelsior'...
, where he played from 1958 to 1962. From Excelsior he moved to Rotterdam's larger team Feyenoord
Feyenoord Rotterdam
Feyenoord is a Dutch professional football club located in Rotterdam. Along with Ajax and PSV Eindhoven, Feyenoord is one of the "big three" clubs in the Netherlands. These three clubs and Utrecht and Roda JC are the only clubs never to have been relegated from the Dutch first division...
, where he remained until 1968. After 6 years at Feyenoord, Libregts returned to Excelsior where he played until 1972 when he announced his retirement.
Managerial career
Libregts' first coaching position was at Excelsior Rotterdam, where he worked from 1975 to 1980. Excelsior were relegated in Libregts' first season, but they won promotion in 1978–79. From Excelsior he moved to PSV Eindhoven, whom he took to second place in the EredivisieEredivisie
The Eredivisie is the highest football league in the Netherlands. The league was founded in 1956 two years after the start of professional football in the Netherlands. It is currently ranked the ninth best league in Europe by UEFA....
in 1981–82. In 1983 Libregts moved to Feyenoord, where he won a league and cup double in his first season. At Feyenoord Libregts he was involved in a race row after he was alleged to have referred to Ruud Gullit
Ruud Gullit
OON is a Dutch football manager and former football player, who played professionally in the 1980s and 1990s. He was the captain of the Netherlands national team that was victorious at Euro 88 and was also a member of the squad for the 1990 World Cup. He was named the European Footballer of the...
as "blackie" and criticised him for being lazy, though Libregts defended himself by claiming that it was merely a nickname.
In November 1984 Libregts moved to Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
with Aris Thessaloniki
Aris Thessaloniki F.C.
Aris Football Club , also known as God of war and the Yellows, is a Greek football club based in the city of Thessaloniki, Macedonia. Formed in 1914, the club was a founding member of Macedonian Football Clubs Association as well as the Hellenic Football Federation, they currently compete in...
, where he remained until 1986. In the 1986/87 season he joined PAOK, but his stay was brief and in December 1987 he switched to Olympiacos. Libregts was appointed as Holland
Netherlands national football team
The Netherlands National Football Team represents the Netherlands in association football and is controlled by the Royal Dutch Football Association , the governing body for football in the Netherlands...
manager in 1988 as he took over from Rinus Michels
Rinus Michels
Marinus Jacobus Hendricus Michels OON was a Dutch association football player and coach...
as coach of the European champions. Holland easily qualified for the 1990 FIFA World Cup
1990 FIFA World Cup
The 1990 FIFA World Cup was the 14th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 8 June to 8 July 1990 in Italy, the second country to host the event twice. Teams representing 116 national football associations from all six populated...
, but Libregts was replaced by Leo Beenhakker
Leo Beenhakker
Leo Beenhakker is an international Dutch football coach, who is the current Sports Director of Újpest FC.- Coaching career :...
before the tournament itself.
From 1991 to 1994 he was a coach with Iraklis Thessaloniki in Greece and from 1994 to 1995 returned to coach Olympiacos. Having been dismissed by Olympiakos, Libregts took charge of the Nigeria national football team
Nigeria national football team
The Nigeria national football team, nicknamed the Super Eagles or Green Eagles, is the national team of Nigeria and is controlled by the Nigeria Football Federation . The team has ranked as high as 5th in the FIFA World Rankings, in April 1994...
in August 1998, who he managed until October 1999. After two years out of work Libregts joined Grazer AK
Grazer AK
Grazer AK, founded 18 August 1902 as Grazer Athletik-Sport Klub , is an Austrian sports club, from the city of Graz in the federal state of Styria . The football section is one of the most traditional Austrian clubs, most successful in the decade 1995 – 2005...
in October 2001 where he remained until August 2002 and whom he led to the Cup, as well as to the victory in Supercup.
In August 2002 he was replaced by Walter Schachner
Walter Schachner
Walter "Schoko" Schachner is a football manager and former Austrian national player .As he always brought chocolate to the games when he was a boy, he got the nickname schoko...
and he has been without a club since then.