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Mitchell van der Gaag

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Mitchell van der Gaag
Personal information
Full name Mitchell van der Gaag
Date of birth (1971-10-22) 22 October 1971 (age 54)
Place of birth Zutphen, Netherlands
Height 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)[1]
Position Centre-back
Youth career
SC Brummen
De Graafschap
1986–1989 PSV
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1989–1995 PSV 44 (4)
1989–1990 → NEC (loan) 10 (2)
1990–1992 → Sparta (loan) 55 (4)
1995–1997 Motherwell 42 (8)
1997–2001 Utrecht 99 (11)
2001–2006 Marítimo 154 (18)
2006–2007 Al Nassr 27 (3)
Total 431 (50)
International career
1986 Netherlands U15 2 (1)
1988 Netherlands U17[2] 3 (0)
1988-1989 Netherlands U19 4 (0)
1993 Netherlands U21 3 (0)
Managerial career
2008–2009 Marítimo B
2009–2010 Marítimo
2012–2013 Belenenses
2015 Ermis
2015–2016 Eindhoven
2016–2018 Excelsior
2018–2019 NAC
2019–2021 Jong Ajax
2025 Zürich
2026– Marítimo
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Mitchell van der Gaag (born 22 October 1971) is a Dutch professional football coach and former player who played as a centre-back. He is currently in his second spell as head coach of Primeira Liga side Marítimo.

He made 208 Eredivisie appearances, scoring 19 goals, for NEC, Sparta Rotterdam, PSV and Utrecht. Abroad, he had spells at Motherwell in the Scottish Premier League and Marítimo in Portugal's Primeira Liga, playing 174 total games for the latter and scoring 19 times.

As a manager, van der Gaag led several teams including Marítimo and Belenenses in Portugal, as well as Excelsior and NAC in his country.

Playing career

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Club

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Van der Gaag was born in Zutphen and raised in Brummen, Gelderland. After graduating from PSV Eindhoven's youth academy, he spent three seasons on loan to NEC Nijmegen and Sparta Rotterdam, returning to Eindhoven in 1992. He went on to play 50 games for the PSV first team, alongside the likes of Luc Nilis, Romário and Ronaldo.

In March 1995, van der Gaag signed with Motherwell for £400,000. He made his debut for Alex McLeish's side on 1 April 1995, in a 1–1 draw against Celtic, however his season was brought to a premature end with an injury in his second match against Partick Thistle.[3] He scored a career-best seven goals in 28 games in his second full season to help the Steelmen narrowly avoid relegation from the Scottish Premier Division,[4] and subsequently returned to the Eredivisie with Utrecht.

For the 2001–02 campaign, van der Gaag joined Portugal's Marítimo,[5] going on to be one of the Madeira club's most influential players as it consolidated in the Primeira Liga. He scored six times in 2003–04, helping the team finish sixth and qualify for the UEFA Cup.[6]

International

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Van der Gaag played 3 matches for the Netherlands national under-21 football team[7] and 4 for the U19s.[8]

Coaching career

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Van der Gaag retired from football in 2007, having spent one season with Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia.[9] In July of the following year, he returned to Marítimo as a coach and took the reins of its B team.

In October 2009, after Carlos Carvalhal's dismissal following a string of bad results, van der Gaag was promoted to the main squad.[10] After helping them finish fifth – a place conquered in the last round with a 2–1 away win against Vitória de Guimarães, who were leapfrogged in the process – and qualify for the Europa League,[11] his contract was renewed for a further year.

On 14 September 2010, after collecting only one point in the league's first four matches and being ousted by BATE in the Europa League, van der Gaag was sacked by Marítimo.[12] He returned to management after nearly two years, still in Portugal, signing with Segunda Liga side Belenenses.[13] In his first season, he won the league, thus returning the club to the top flight after three years.[14][15]

Van der Gaag took a temporary leave of absence in late September 2013 due to heart problems, after feeling unwell during a league game against former side Marítimo (1–0 home win).[16] In February 2015, he was appointed at Ermis Aradippou of the Cypriot First Division,[17] being released after just one month after refusing to renew his contract for the following campaign.[18]

After spending the 2015–16 season back in his country with FC Eindhoven, in the Eerste Divisie,[19] van der Gaag moved to the top flight and successively coached Excelsior[20] and NAC Breda.[21] On 24 May 2019, he returned to the former tier after signing a two-year deal at Ajax's reserves.[22]

Van der Gaag was appointed assistant manager of the first team of on 1 June 2021, replacing the departing Christian Poulsen. His position at the reserves was filled by John Heitinga, who had previously worked in the youth academy.[23]

On 23 May 2022, Van der Gaag was confirmed as assistant head coach of Manchester United, along with Steve McClaren, to work with first team head coach Erik ten Hag, who he previously worked with at Ajax.[24]

On 26 November 2023, in a Premier league match against Everton at Goodison Park, with Erik Ten Hag suspended, Van der Gaag was the coach on the sidelines as Manchester United won 3-0.

Following a coaching staff overhaul, Van der Gaag departed his role with Manchester United on 9 July 2024 to pursue a head coach position at a different club.[25][26]

On 31 May 2025, he was announced as the new head coach of FC Zürich,[27] signing a two-year contract.[28] He was dismissed on 23 October 2025, after five months in charge.[29] In June 2026, van der Gaag returned to his former club Marítimo for a second spell as head coach, signing a two-year contract until June 2028.[30]

Personal life

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Van der Gaag's father Wim was also a footballer, who was one of the first professionals in the Netherlands in 1954.[31] His sons Jordan and Luca also went into the game, representing Belenenses.[32]

Managerial statistics

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As of 18 October 2025
Managerial record by team and tenure
Team Nat From To Record
G W D L Win %
Zürich Switzerland 31 May 2025 23 October 2025 11524045.45
Total 11524045.45

Honours

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Player

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PSV

Manager

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Belenenses

References

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  1. ↑ "Van Der Gaag (Mitchell van der Gaag)". ForaDeJogo. Archived from the original on 26 October 2012.
  2. ↑ "Mitchell van der Gaag". OnsOranje (KNVB - Dutch FA) (in Dutch). Retrieved 27 June 2026.
  3. ↑ "The Foreign Legion: Mitchell van der Gaag". Motherwell F.C. 18 July 2017. Retrieved 15 June 2026.
  4. ↑ Parks, Gordon (11 December 2014). "Mitchell van der Gaag becomes hot favourite to take charge at Motherwell". Daily Record. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  5. ↑ "Van der Gaag tekent bij Marítimo" [Van der Gaag signs with Marítimo] (in Dutch). Voetbal International. 2 July 2001. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
  6. ↑ "Maritimo warning for Gers". BBC Sport. 29 September 2004. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
  7. ↑ "Mitchell van der Gaag". OnsOranje (KNVB - Dutch FA) (in Dutch). Retrieved 18 July 2026.
  8. ↑ "Mitchell van der Gaag". OnsOranje (KNVB - Dutch FA) (in Dutch). Retrieved 27 June 2026.
  9. ↑ "Al-Nassr zet Van der Gaag op straat" [Al-Nassr show door to Van der Gaag] (in Dutch). Voetbal International. 5 September 2006. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
  10. ↑ "Marítimo: SAD confirma Van der Gaag como treinador principal" [Marítimo: PLSC confirms Van der Gaag as head coach] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. 17 October 2009. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
  11. ↑ "Marítimo rouba última vaga da Liga Europa ao Guimarães" [Marítimo steal last Europa League berth from Guimarães] (in Portuguese). SAPO. 9 May 2010. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  12. ↑ "Maritimo ontslaat Van der Gaag" [Maritimo sack Van der Gaag] (in Dutch). Nederlandse Omroep Stichting. 15 September 2010. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
  13. ↑ Abecasis, João Pedro; Ferreira, Nuno Miguel (29 May 2012). "Van der Gaag por três épocas" [Van der Gaag for three seasons]. Record (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on 30 May 2012. Retrieved 31 May 2012.
  14. 1 2 "Mitchell van der Gaag held in Lissabon" [Mitchell van der Gaag hero in Lisbon]. Algemeen Dagblad (in Dutch). 5 April 2013. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
  15. ↑ "Belenenses um clube de Lisboa" [Belenenses a Lisbon club]. Record (in Portuguese). 6 May 2013. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
  16. ↑ "Van der Gaag deixa Belenenses devido a problema cardíaco" [Van der Gaag leaves Belenenses due to heart problem]. Público (in Portuguese). 26 September 2013. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
  17. ↑ Κατέληξε στον «τουλίπα» Μίτσελ φαν ντερ Χάαχ [In comes "tulip" Mitchell van der Gaag] (in Greek). Sentra Goal. 4 February 2015. Retrieved 9 May 2015.
  18. ↑ Larkos, Panos (25 March 2015). «Ευχαριστώ για την ευκαιρία...» [«Thank you for the opportunity...»] (in Greek). Sentra Goal. Archived from the original on 2 June 2015. Retrieved 9 May 2015.
  19. ↑ "FC Eindhoven stelt Van der Gaag aan als coach" [FC Eindhoven appoint Van der Gaag as coach]. Algemeen Dagblad (in Dutch). 1 June 2015. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
  20. ↑ "Trainer Van der Gaag verlengt aflopend contract bij Excelsior niet" [Manager Van der Gaag does not extend expiring contract with Excelsior] (in Dutch). NU.nl. 4 March 2018. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  21. ↑ "Van der Gaag weg bij NAC Breda" [Van der Gaag out at NAC Breda]. De Telegraaf (in Dutch). 18 March 2019. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
  22. ↑ "Mitchell van der Gaag trainer Jong Ajax" [Mitchell van der Gaag Jong Ajax manager] (in Dutch). AFC Ajax. 24 May 2019. Retrieved 14 July 2019.
  23. ↑ "Van der Gaag schuift door naar Ajax 1; Heitinga trainer Jong Ajax" [Van der Gaag through to Ajax 1; Heitinga manager of Jong Ajax] (in Dutch). Ajax Showtime. 1 June 2021. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  24. ↑ "Backroom Staff Appointments Confirmed". Manchester United. 23 May 2022. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
  25. ↑ "Mitchell van der Gaag Has Man Utd Contract Terminated". GiveMeSport. 10 July 2024. Retrieved 10 July 2024.
  26. ↑ "Ruud van Nistelrooy, Rene Hake join Erik ten Hag's Manchester United coaching staff". The Athletic. 11 July 2024. Retrieved 22 July 2024.
  27. ↑ "Mitchell van der Gaag wird neuer Cheftrainer des FC Zürich" (in Swiss High German). FC Zürich. 31 May 2025. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  28. ↑ "Van der Gaag becomes new coach of FC Zurich". blue News. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  29. ↑ "Der FC Zürich trennt sich von Cheftrainer Mitchell van der Gaag" (in Swiss High German). FC Zürich. 23 October 2025. Retrieved 23 October 2025.
  30. ↑ "Mitchell van der Gaag é o novo treinador do Marítimo" (in Portuguese). C.S. Marítimo. 15 June 2026.
  31. ↑ Verkamman, Matty (24 December 1993). "Een duizendpoot met een groot sporthart 'Ik zie Hans Boskamp nog staan, aan beide armen een blondine' 'Als ik het over moest doen, deed ik het weer precies zo'" [A centipede with a big sporting heart 'I can still see Hans Boskamp standing, a blonde on each arm' 'If I had to do it all over again, I would do it exactly the same way']. Trouw (in Dutch). Retrieved 12 October 2021.
  32. ↑ Pereira, Sérgio; Alvarenga, Vítor Hugo (2 October 2021). "O futebol português também é uma questão de ADN" [Portuguese football is also a question of DNA] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
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