Wilbert Suvrijn
Encyclopedia
Wilbert Suvrijn is a retired Dutch
footballer. Mainly a central defender, he could also operate as a defensive midfielder.
(helping it promote to Eredivisie
in his debut season, as champions) and Roda JC, playing in a total of 209 games in the top division, in seven seasons. With the latter club, he scored twice in 31 matches in the 1986–87 season, helping it finish fourth and qualify for the UEFA Cup.
In 1989, Suvrijn signed with French
club Montpellier HSC
, helping it win the domestic cup
in his first year - he missed the final due to injury - and contributing decisively to the club's sixth place in Ligue 1
in 1991–92, playing almost exclusively in midfield
. After only nine matches in the following campaign, mainly due to back
problems, the 30-year old decided to retire, staying closely related to France, and became a players agent
.
on 29 April 1986, replacing Michel Valke
in a friendly match
with Scotland
(0–0), as Rinus Michels
was the manager.
He went on to gain nine full caps
in two years, being called to the squad for UEFA Euro 1988 in West Germany
. In the finals, Suvrijn played two games for the eventual champions, totalling four minutes: in the group stage 3–1 win against England
, he substituted Marco van Basten, scorer of all of the team's goals in the match; in the semifinals against the hosts
(2–1), he played the last minute in the place of injured Erwin Koeman
.
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...
footballer. Mainly a central defender, he could also operate as a defensive midfielder.
Club career
In his country, Suvrijn represented hometown's Fortuna SittardFortuna Sittard
Fortuna Sittard is a football club in Sittard, Netherlands. The club currently plays its football in the 12,500 capacity Trendwork Arena and features in the Dutch Eerste Divisie. The club was a merger of former clubs 'Fortuna 54' and 'Sittardia' to merge as the Fortuna Sittard Combinatie on July 1,...
(helping it promote to Eredivisie
Eredivisie
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 his debut season, as champions) and Roda JC, playing in a total of 209 games in the top division, in seven seasons. With the latter club, he scored twice in 31 matches in the 1986–87 season, helping it finish fourth and qualify for the UEFA Cup.
In 1989, Suvrijn signed with French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
club Montpellier HSC
Montpellier HSC
Montpellier Hérault Sport Club is a French association football club based in the city of Montpellier. The club was founded in 1919 and currently plays in Ligue 1, the top level of French football. Montpellier plays its home matches at the Stade de la Mosson, located within the city...
, helping it win the domestic cup
Coupe de France
The Coupe Charles Simon, commonly known as the Coupe de France , is the premier knockout cup competition in French football organized by the French Football Federation...
in his first year - he missed the final due to injury - and contributing decisively to the club's sixth place in Ligue 1
Ligue 1
Ligue 1 , is the French professional league for association football clubs. It is the country's primary football competition and serves as the top division of the French football league system. Ligue 1 is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel, the other being Ligue 2....
in 1991–92, playing almost exclusively in midfield
Midfield
Midfield is the part of a sports pitch that lies approximately in the center. It is a term most commonly associated with football to refer to the area in and around the center circle, as well as the players who occupy that region, but it can be used in field hockey to describe the same area, or in...
. After only nine matches in the following campaign, mainly due to back
Human back
The human back is the large posterior area of the human body, rising from the top of the buttocks to the back of the neck and the shoulders. It is the surface opposite to the chest, its height being defined by the vertebral column and its breadth being supported by the ribcage and shoulders...
problems, the 30-year old decided to retire, staying closely related to France, and became a players agent
Sports agent
A sports agent procures and negotiates employment and endorsement contracts for an athlete.In return, the sports agent generally receives between 4 and 10% of the athlete's playing contract, and 10 to 20% of the athlete's endorsement contract, though these figures vary...
.
International career
Suvrijn made his debut for HollandNetherlands 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...
on 29 April 1986, replacing Michel Valke
Michel Valke
Michel Valke is a retired Dutch footballer who was active as a midfielder. Valke made his professional debut at Sparta Rotterdam and also played for PSV Eindhoven, Feyenoord Rotterdam, Olympique Lyonnais and Dordrecht'90....
in a friendly match
Exhibition game
An exhibition game is a sporting event in which there is no competitive value of any significant kind to any competitor regardless of the outcome of the competition...
with Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
(0–0), as Rinus Michels
Rinus Michels
Marinus Jacobus Hendricus Michels OON was a Dutch association football player and coach...
was the manager.
He went on to gain nine full caps
Cap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
in two years, being called to the squad for UEFA Euro 1988 in West Germany
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
. In the finals, Suvrijn played two games for the eventual champions, totalling four minutes: in the group stage 3–1 win against England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
, he substituted Marco van Basten, scorer of all of the team's goals in the match; in the semifinals against the hosts
Germany national football team
The Germany national football team is the football team that has represented Germany in international competition since 1908. It is governed by the German Football Association , which was founded in 1900....
(2–1), he played the last minute in the place of injured Erwin Koeman
Erwin Koeman
Erwin Koeman is a former football player and Dutch football manager. Currently he is the manager of FC Utrecht in the Dutch Eredivisie. He is the son of Dutch international footballer Martin Koeman, and, alongside his younger brother Ronald, has also represented the Netherlands...
.