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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‘Gers’…….. lose out in £20M Ianis Hagi bid, as player gets surgery
What’s in a name ?
Wim was someone who came to Celtic and acted with total dignity and humility throughout his short stay.
He will forever be remembered as the man who managed the team who stopped the ten.
I will never forget the final game against St Johnstone. From Henrik’s opener to the sitter they missed to level and Harald’s goal to seal it.
God bless Wim, you gave us memories we will cherish forever.
Wim Jansen, Celtic legend, RIP.
MNCELT, I was the same as you , working abroad and watching early internet Celtic site that gave a text commentary can’t remember what it was called but a great lifeline in those days when radio was impossible, not sure what my German neighbours thought of the noise that Saturday afternoon, a great man I had the pleasure of meeting in Luxembourg at the Jeunesse game, HH
Alloa midfielder Mouhamed Niang has been cited by the Scottish FA for his tackle on Celtic’s Yosuke Ideguchi.
FFS should be jailed for that, not cited by the Scottish FA
The shoulder smash by Adam King has been ignored, that was extremely dangerous for Callum McGregor ,Connor McGregor might also have struggled with it.
BBHoy – Yes, I can’t remember the name of that service but the bhoys that sent in the updates were a godsend. It’s been a technology journey working abroad all these years. From the old T1 connection at work getting text updates, to early Celtic TV with the fixed cameras at the back of the stand which you could ‘own’ for 2 mins in a game, then live commentary, live pictures that were never stable, to eventually being able to watch on the big screen at home.
The boss from earlier today…https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_4jkFX6064&ab_channel=CelticFC
MNCELT, a technology journey indeed, a thrill following them no matter what medium, I will try to remember that lifesaving forum , HH
Rest In Peace Wim
Thank you for everything you did for us and for Celtic
This wasn’t covered on the pre match press conference so can only assume it was after that with print media…
Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou has revealed he told his players to pull out of challenges against Alloa as he feared “reckless” challenges could injure more of his stars.
A serious facial injury saw captain Callum McGregor taken off, with no timescale on his return to action.
Liel Abada also suffered an injury while Record Sport exclusively revealed Mouhamed Niang has been retrospectively rapped for his wild challenge that saw Yosuke Ideguchi limp off.
And the Celtic boss confessed that he was so worried there would be further casualties he told his players not to go in for tackles.
Postecoglou said: “Since I started managing 25 years ago, there has always been little tweaks in the rules but one consistent theme is they always show us tackles that are deemed to be dangerous or reckless and they will always get punished because it is a big part of the protection of players.
“This year was no different and if you show footage of that tackle, it was exactly the vision we get shown, to know that is going to be handled by the referee.
“I will be honest, I told some of the lads towards the end of the game to just not to bother going into tackles and just look after themselves because I didn’t want any more injuries.
“I just didn’t feel there was control of that environment.
“Sometimes players are just reckless but that doesn’t mean it is excusable.
We had a player who had a serious injury, there’s a couple of others who were lucky to escape from that and that is why I was disappointed with the way the night panned out.
RIP Wim Jansen . Stopping the ten and bringing Henrik to the club ……. that’s one helluva contribution in one season as boss .
Interesting that since the ‘ankle tap’ tackle against “Guchi” in the Alloa cup tie, similar challenges (though none quite so bad) in AFCON have resulted in THREE red cards in 3 different matches.
I have tweeted same to the SFA for comment !
Couldn’t be at Celtic Park that memorable day. Had to be in Ayrshire. Couldn’t cope with the radio commentary. Was walking along Ayr beach when I heard one fan shout the score to his mate. Oh happy day.
Oh, and thank you, Wim. What you achieved at Parkhead will never be forgotten. May you rest in peace. Tot kijk.
Just a wee reminder that the Superbru comp starts back tonight with 5 more matches tomorrow as well. Get those scores in now
RIP Wim Jansen
Will always be remembered for his contribution to THAT season, and will never forgotten for THAT day in May 1988.
I can distinctly remember the weekend before – when a win away at Dunfermline would clinch the league – and making plans to meet friends/family in McNee’s pub at Eglinton Toll for the after match celebrations (I was working weekends). I even took a change of clothes to work that day (didn’t want to join the party wearing a suit). Needless to say, Dunfermline’s late equaliser killed those plans.
The following week, we had St Johnstone at home on the last day of the season.
I took NO change of clothes to work; and made NO plans to meet anyone after work – for fear of jinxing us – superstitious or what!
Spent the day at work, listening to the match on the radio. The joy of Henrik’s early goal. The heart in mouth moment when they missed a clear chance in front of goal. The feeling of ecstasy as Harold scored the second (he will always be a hero to me for that moment alone).
The tension that day was unbearable.
I worked just off Vicky Rd, so tried to get into Queens Park Cafe after work, but it was packed to the rafters and not letting any more in.
I ended up queuing 15 mins to get into Billy McNeill’s pub around the corner. Another 15 mins to get served. I remember standing in the middle of the pub, trying to drink my two bottles of Miller, and struggling. My stomach was still in knots from the tension that day. I couldn’t physically drink them! I ended up leaving two half bottles of beer, and heading home completely and utterly exhausted, mentally and physically…just relieved that we had managed to win.
Thank you Wim.
HH
Doh! feckin typo – 1998 obviously
embramike- that red card was ridiculous
Thanks Wim for everything.
May YNWA
MNCELT
Could it have been the BBC Celtic Forum? I used to get all my match updates from there when I was based in Seattle.
Thank you Wim Jansen ,never forget that day up in the North stand, tears of joy and relief .
God bless R.I.P
Hi Tom – No it wasn’t that. It was like the old ceefax or teletext service but it was only Celtic coverage. It’ll come to me shortly- I blame old age
Ar dheis lámh Dhé go raibh anam uasal Wim Jansen.
So much to thank him for.
Tearing up. Hadn’t heard about Wim till I checked in. Talent is talent.
RIP Wim the tim !
RIP Wim.
You were with us for only one year as manager, becoming a Celtic legend and made your mark on Celtic history, thank you!
HH Dan
TOM MCLAUGHLIN , no , nothing to do with BBC , it was a fan forum from very early days, just a plain teletext if I remember, wish I could remember the name, think they had loads of people chipping in along with the “commentators “ HH
Wim gave me the best ever Party day in my adult life.
I was just coming to the end of my own playing days in my sport and had not been a regular attender that season, just half a dozen midweek games or so, but my late departed brother managed to get me a ticket. I was struck by how nervous the regular attenders were and I think my positivity irked them at times. I thought we dominated the game and that O’ Boyle’s chance was not that worrying, but the regulars had seen too many frailties and collapses to ever think about counting chickens.
The walk into town from Parkhead was epic, the booze in the Merchant City was good but we ended up in Heraghty’s for the serious part of the evening and, despite all the drink taken, the mass Huddle that stopped traffic that night will live with me till my deathbed.
RIP Wim
link to Feyenoord condolences register
https://feyenoord.condoleer.site/registers/wim-jansen/
I was fortunate enough to be there that fantastic day .
The relief when Harald scored the second and then at the final whistle
It will live long in the memory .
RIP Wim Jansen
Big Jimmy has finally found the sweet spot
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-60116475
What are the chances of a Referee’s strike now that Ange has dared to criticize them?
SETTING FREE THE BEARS FOR RES. 12 & OSCAR KNOX on 25TH JANUARY 2022 5:50 PM
…………….
Cheers mate.
Finally I can see Celtic Park from Space , but I STILL cant see a Handsome Hun !
HH.
Still waiting for Superbru picks from Angel Gabriel, BGFC and wee BGFC, knoxy, Mahe, Marspapa, Scaniel, The Lurkin Tim, Wee McCaff, Bateen Bhoy and BRTH ( though the last 2 have done tonight’s fixture at least)
I too was in my seat for THAT Day v St Johnstone…and the relief all around Celtic Park was/is literally UN Describable.
We sang and danced all the way doon the Gallowgate and back into Bairds Bar.
I was there till closing time….MAGIC Feeling and MAGIC Day.
HH.
RIP WIM.
Celtic legends never die.
Rest in peace.
Thank you Wim for all you done for our club, stopping there 10, Henrik, big Marc etc, wish you had stayed longer, RIP.
thanks for the link sftb
SFTB- thanks for the link,i left a message on the Feyenoord website, when Henrik scored that day,it is still the loudest roar i have heard at CP,when Harald sealed it,i think a lot of us collapsed in to our seats with sheer relief.
The Gonk’s time could be up tomorrow