Wim Jansen was one of the main reasons Celtic did not win a second European Cup. He was in the midfield of the Feyenoord team which overcame Jock Stein’s Celtic in extra time the 1970 final in Milan. He went on the play in two World Cup Finals for Netherlands, losing to host nations Argentina and West Germany on both occasions.
A brilliant player, hard as nails, apparently, he was one of a handful of Dutch players who ranked below the Great Johan Cruyff.
On retirement, he coached at Feyenoord, managed briefly in Belgium, before taking the reins at Feyenoord in 1990. As was the Dutch way at the time, a fall out caused him to leave, eventually moving to Japan. His year there was not successful.
Few of my generation had heard of him the morning he was announced as Celtic manager in 1997. Such was the media back then, we were told he was “the second worst thing to hit Hiroshima” – honestly, that was a newspaper report!
His first league game saw defeat at Easter Road. In his second, a halftime penalty lead at home to Dunfermline was not enough to prevent the Fifers leaving with all three points. Rangers seemed assured of 10-in-a-row, but Wim was only getting started.
Like many of you, I lived through that season. I did not understand how we were able to win the league from such a position and still don’t. We lost our best players going into the campaign and although the incomparable Henrik Larsson arrived from Feyenoord, Wim was not familiar with the bulk of the players who came in.
Gradually results improved, but honestly, the entire campaign was fragile. Each game required enormous effort. A League Cup win meant more than anyone would believe now. A heroic win over Rangers at New Year made us consider the unimaginable may just be possible. Then in April, points were dropped at home to Hibs, who were on their way to being relegated.
Then Dunfermline’s role in that season came into sharp focus again. A win in Fife in the second last game and Celtic were champions after Rangers had lost at home to a last minute Kilmarnock goal the previous day. Simon Donnelly put Celtic ahead but Craig Falconbridge equalised in the closing stages. Was it ever to be Celtic’s time?
I wasn’t there at Dunfermline that day, most of us were watching at home, but we were there in our droves at the final game of the season at home to St Johnstone. Being there when history came home meant so much. In all the great Celtic games I’ve attended, the beating of Barca, Milan and Real Madrid, nothing, NOTHING, matches standing on the slopes of Celtic Park that day.
Our celebrations were cut short, the newspapers the following day reported a fall out, Wim was leaving Celtic after a single glorious season. He would never manage again. Dementia took him today.
You do not need to stay here long to make a lasting impact. What Wim did at Celtic will forever be a credit to his talent and his undoubted charm. May he rest in peace.
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What a see-saw of a season that was. The signing of Henrik would be a long term thing, but, to me, one of the most important events of that season was the League Cup Final, winning that day gave us all the belief that we could win the League. Then the biggest of all on that final day, wow just wow. I hadn’t been able to go to the Dunfermline game has I had the Flu, so was a bit deflated not being able to see them win the league, so when we drew I had mixed emotions, but I would now be able to see us win it! Boy oh boy what a great day/night that was. Made our way along to Royston for the celebrations after the match and what a celebration we had there. Thanks for those wonderful memories Wim, THANKS! por cierto
Wim Jansen rip.
Thank you for winning the league, in the face of inculcated cheating.we over came.God bless Wim and may eternal rest ģrant unto him
Always part of Celtic
HH
Just thinking of the beam back for the dunfermline game.
Celtic_Gucks
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At least eight people have been killed and 38 injured in a crush outside an Africa Cup of Nations football match in Cameroon.
Some pals and I were in the the Queens Park Cafe after our league winning game in 1998.
Some guys were singing this cracking song
There’s only one Wim Jansen, he’s got the Bhoys all dancin, he’s got the magic touch because he’s Dutch , walking in a Celtic wonderland.
Davie Hay leaving Celtic , I believe is one of the reasons , Wim never stayed as he had a great relationship with Davie.
As well as giving us Henrik , Wim also signed Marc Rieper who was magnificent for us that season.
Rest in peace Wim . Thank you for everything you gave and did for us.
RIP Wim
Hartstikke Bedankt
Vim Jansen RIP.
Broke our hearts on 6 May 1970, but greatly gladdened them on 9 May 1998.
Also conducted himself with great dignity and personal class during his short – but hugely memorable – stay with us.
RIP Wim.
Gave me one of the happiest sporting memories of my life.
I was seated top row of the “new” stand.
When Brattback scored, it literally shook !
Invading the pitch at full time, singing laughing, shedding tears.
Marching back down the Gallowgate in our thousands, there was a couple of young women waving scarfs from the balcony of some flats.
One guy in the crowd shouts up “Show us your t#ts” .
Which she obligingly did !
It was that sort of day.
It was Wim Jansen, the curly haired, smiling genius, who gave us that most important of all leagues and the amazing memories
Thank you.
RIP Wim, a Celtic legend and fine human being!
Partied in the Gallowgate and Merchant City till the wee small hours after stopping the Cheats 10iar. Woke up the next day and straight to the Tollbooth for one of the greatest sessions and sing songs of my life.
Magic and I still smile just thinking about it.
Thanks for the memories Wim, God bless
Had my ST for the”Heated seats”section then,but I was out of the country doing some work.A friend was coming back from America,so made arrangements for him to have my ticket.Long story,but managed to get back,but now no ticket.My mates worked a wee clever ruse to get me in to my section.Had 2hours in the bar with them,then got out through the fire exit,and made my way to my other mates on the top curve of Celtic end,half named,and they squeezed me in there.Glasgow was wonderful that night.
Wim Jansen Rest In Peace .
Jaked,bloody tablet
Maybe some good news on Calmac,even if only Hun game.
RIP WIM…….a Gent
Rest in Peace Wim Jansen.
Probably very few people can remember what they were doing on 9th May 1998. But, because the Celtic baton has been passed from generation to generation, we can. And how. Early goal from No7 settled the nerves but not for very long. Stayed at one nil for what seemed like a eternity. Then, at last, Harold. Relief, joy unconfined.
As has already been said, Wim was the right man at the right time. Can’t remember him ever being too flustered about anything. Almost as if he knew it was always just a one season project.
Alloa’s Mouhamed Niang facing retrospective red card for Yosuke Ideguchi cruncher
Joke…
https://thecelticstar.com/this-is-not-just-about-football-hes-had-a-significant-injury-anges-worrying-calmac-update/#.YfAEsuxTAOg.whatsapp
Update re Callum, not good
Wim Jansen, a hero.
I too was at that game and I remembered how at the end of the match, everybody was hugging each other, many including myself , were in floods of tears..
What a memory
KINGLuBO
Good story in the DR today ,quite funny ending,about drunk Coppers celebrating last seasons Title win.
Bada,
Any idea how many that is now.Wonder how many they have had.
Shocking.Ferguson still trying to defend him.
Celebrated that win on my todd in Cape Town. I had gone into the office because I could get an internet connection there to watch text updates from Celtic fans watching tele or listening to radio back home. Seeing news of Henrik scoring had me running up and down the corridor in a moment of unbelievable happiness never to be equaled and never forgotten. Thank you Wim for what you did for Celtic in your all too short a stay.
RIP.
Wim worked a miracle that season. The squad was divided, with players like Burley, Gould, possibly Stubbs, with their drinking culture, and on the other hand the good Scandinavian professionals Henrik, Brattbak, Rieper and Wieghorst.
RIP Wim
R I P Wim
If we didnae huv Wim Jansen Where wid. We be, RIP Wim 💚
On Calmac,
Did not realise the supposed Celtic Blog was quoting the idiot Keith Jackson.
Always remember I was working in my office in Oslo the week
before the St. Johnstone league victory and was laughing at a big
hun in the office trying to get the huns v Kilmarnock match on his
radio when the commentator switched to the Hungarian tiddly
winks Cup (or something more important than a huns match
Big hun hit the roof and exploded 5 minutes later when commentary
went back to Ibrox to discover Kilmarnock had scored the winner in injury
time
Hagi out rest of the season for the huns…..Compliance Officer has issued a retrospective Electric Chair for the Stirling Albion defender involved…
RIP Wim thanks for the ride it was something else.
Hagi out !!!!!!!!!!!!!
That’s 25 million oot the windae,in transfer fee.
RIP Wim
Thank you and God Bless Wim
I was working in Tartu, southern Estonia, on that day.
Got the second half on Shortwave World Service- nerve wracking as reception came and went.
The only player on the park seemed to be called O’Boyle until Harald settled it – what night, ended up singing The Fields on stage in a pub with an Irish guy who represented Schweppes in Easter Europe!
Estonian beer supplies have only just recovered.
R.I.P. Wim
You gave me one of my best Celtic days ever.
The turning point for the stop the ten season IMHO was Stubbsys goal versus them in the last minute to make it 1-1 .
Met Wim at the 3-1 game against Ajax in Amsterdam , sitting there with his wife as the troops queued up for photos , a total gentleman , nothing was a bother. HH
Have to laugh.Had a wee look at Bear Assed Den there ..
Last week,Hagi was a superstar,now he is a Tit
“Get someone like Ross Barkley in to replace him”
They could ask wee Bawwy for a couple of loan players , they have a few hard men to spare .
Same old Alloa always cheating…😜
Don Robertson’s second retrospective red in months with injury to Celtic players.
Constructive Talks CSC
RIP Wim.
Another gone too soon.
His achievement demonstrates that you don’t need longevity to become a legend.
That final game to stop the 10 was one of my greatest ever Celtic days (and , for what it’s worth , where my wee moniker above comes from).
RTP Wim
I remember Wim sitting in the row behind me in the Amsterdam arena with Bobby Pettas parents. They were widely celebrating our victory as Celtic and as Feyenoord fans.