Ronald Koeman to receive Eredivisie Lifetime Achievement Award

The Eredivisie Lifetime Achievement Award was created to honour individuals who have made an exceptional contribution to Dutch football. Previous recipients include Arjen Robben, Wim Jansen (posthumously), Louis van Gaal, and Edwin van der Sar, who received the award in 2024. Ronald Koeman now becomes the fifth name to join that distinguished list.

Jan de Jong, CEO of Eredivisie CV: “Raised in Groningen, matured in Amsterdam and Eindhoven, and became a global icon in Barcelona. A legendary figure in the history of Dutch football, born into the ultimate football family. At home, the topic was always football and that hasn’t changed to this day. For over four decades, he has helped shape Dutch football, both at home and abroad. He loves winning more than anyone else. And he always does, his trademark. A true professional. Always has an opinion, always outspoken. The cannon never stays silent. Not with his feet in recent years, but never with his words. A journalist’s dream. With Ronald Koeman, it’s never dull.

He is the only person on earth who played for Ajax, Feyenoord, and PSV—and later managed all three as well. Played 342 matches in the Eredivisie and coached another 336. That alone adds up to 20 years. Won the Eredivisie title seven times. Seven! Ronald grew up in the Eredivisie—and the Eredivisie grew through Ronald. He holds countless records, but I’ll mention just two: the highest-scoring defender of all time. Not just in the Netherlands, but worldwide. And the most converted penalties in the Netherlands: 44. Failure was never an option for him.”

“He gave - and still gives - the Dutch national team its character. Again, both as a player (78 caps) and as a coach (50 matches). And Ronald’s journey is far from over. The finish line is in the USA. And knowing Ronald, he’ll cross it on the very last day. He was part of the legendary Oranje team that won the 1988 European Championship. Even then, he stood out. That year he won everything: the league title, the domestic cup, and the European Cup (now the UEFA Champions League). Not just Hamburg’s Volksparkstadion, but also Wembley belonged to him. ‘Snowflake’ famously delivered FC Barcelona’s first-ever European trophy. A vital part of Johan Cruyff’s dream team. He became a leading figure on the global football stage and a phenomenal ambassador for Dutch football and its attacking spirit.”

“With 30 trophies to his name as a player and coach, and still counting, it was never a question of if Ronald would receive the Eredivisie Lifetime Achievement Award, but simply when. In the canon of Dutch football, the cannon could not be missing. And after today, he isn’t.”

Ronald Koeman’s name is woven throughout the history of the Eredivisie. He made his debut in 1980 for FC Groningen, went on to play for all three of the country’s top clubs, and later managed those same three clubs, as well as Vitesse and AZ. As a player, he appeared in 342 Eredivisie matches, and as a manager, he was on the touchline for 336 league games.

He also boasts an impressive international career, having played and coached at several top clubs abroad. He was part of the iconic FC Barcelona dream team, where he also served as head coach. And with the Dutch national team, he won the 1988 European Championship.

While at PSV, under coach Guus Hiddink, he won the European Cup I (now the Champions League), converting a penalty in the final shootout against Benfica in Stuttgart. He remains the record-holder for the most converted penalties in Dutch football: 44.