Featured at Walkouts, Willem van Hanegem remains one of the most celebrated midfield figures in Dutch football history. Born on 20 February 1944 in Breskens, Van Hanegem combined a distinctive playing style with fierce competitive drive to forge a career that spanned more than two decades. His bent passes and pronounced posture earned him the nickname De Kromme, a tag that captures both his technique and his personality on the pitch.
Van Hanegem's early football education began after the Second World War when he moved to Utrecht with his mother. He rose through local ranks and broke into senior football with Velox, showing goalscoring promise and technical poise. A move to Xerxes followed, where his performances in the top flight attracted interest from the Netherlands' leading clubs and marked him out as a creative force capable of influencing games from midfield.
The defining chapter of his club career came at Feyenoord, where Van Hanegem established himself among the elite of European football. With Feyenoord he won domestic and continental honours, including the European Cup in 1970 and the UEFA Cup in 1974, as well as multiple Eredivisie titles. His ability to supply defence-splitting passes, to score when needed, and to execute tenacious defensive work made him a complete midfielder and a team linchpin during Feyenoord's most successful era.
After his first spell at Feyenoord he continued to contribute at a high level with clubs including AZ'67, where he added the KNVB Cup in 1978, and he had a brief stint abroad with Chicago Sting before returning to the Netherlands to play for FC Utrecht and then rejoin Feyenoord for his final seasons. Later he moved into coaching and management, taking charge of Feyenoord to win the league and domestic cups in the 1990s, and serving in roles at other clubs and as an assistant for the national side.
On the international stage Van Hanegem was a central figure in the Netherlands side that reached the final of the 1974 FIFA World Cup. He earned 52 caps for his country and scored six goals, forming a memorable midfield trio with Johan Neeskens and Wim Jansen and contributing to a third place finish at the UEFA European Championship 1976. Observers and peers praised his tactical intelligence, passing range, and tenacity, qualities that defined his contributions to both club and country.
For collectors, Van Hanegem's career delivers clear provenance markers: association with Feyenoord's European triumphs, national team prominence, and long-standing public recognition. Signed shirts, authenticated autographs, and items linked to the club's 1970 European Cup success are naturally prized by memorabilia enthusiasts. Clear photographic provenance, certificates of authenticity, and condition reports are the standard by which quality items are assessed, and items that can be traced to key matches or seasons command particular attention among serious collectors.
Willem van Hanegem's legacy combines sporting achievement with unmistakable character. His honours, distinctive playing style, and public voice as a columnist have ensured he remains a touchstone in Dutch football history. For those seeking authenticated memorabilia that reflects these defining moments, Walkouts provides access to verified items associated with his career, preserving the connection between player, moment, and collector.
