Jan Poortvliet

PSV

Poortvliet made his competitive debut for PSV in 1975, scoring in a 5–1 win away to local rivals Eindhoven. Under coach Kees Rijvers he became a regular in a successful side, winning three Eredivisie titles and the KNVB Cup. The peak of his career came in 1977–78, when PSV won the UEFA Cup, beating Bastia of France 3–0 in the final after a goalless first leg; in the semi-final against Barcelona, Rijvers credited Poortvliet with marking Johan Cruyff out of the tie. He lost his regular place during the 1983–84 season and left PSV in November 1983.

Later clubs

Poortvliet joined Roda JC in November 1983, scoring once in his only season in Limburg. He then spent several years abroad, playing for Nîmes in France from 1984, followed by Royal Antwerp in Belgium, AS Cannes back in France, and the Belgian club Eendracht Aalst. He ended his playing career in his native Zeeland with VC Vlissingen, which played two seasons as a professional club—the only one the province has had—competing as VCV Zeeland in its second season before the venture folded in 1992.

Poortvliet made his debut for the Netherlands on 20 May 1978 in a 1–0 win over Austria, and was selected for the 1978 FIFA World Cup in Argentina, where the Dutch reached the final and lost 3–1 after extra time to the hosts. He also appeared at UEFA Euro 1980 and won 19 caps in all, scoring once, against Belgium in 1979.

Early management

Poortvliet began coaching in professional football with RBC Roosendaal in 1996–97. The most successful spell of his managerial career came at FC Den Bosch, whom he led to the Eerste Divisie title and promotion to the Eredivisie in 2000–01. From December 2002 to June 2005 he worked at Telstar, then a satellite club of AZ, which also paid his salary, and after spells in amateur football he was appointed head coach of Helmond Sport for the 2007–08 season.

Southampton

On 29 May 2008, Poortvliet was announced as head coach of English Championship club Southampton, replacing Nigel Pearson, with Mark Wotte taking over the academy. He was the club's tenth head coach in ten years and its first from outside the United Kingdom. The appointment was complicated by his existing contract at Helmond Sport, which had not given him permission to negotiate; after his initial offer of compensation was rejected, a KNVB arbitration panel ruled that he could take the role on payment of £60,000 to Helmond, which he did. After an opening defeat to Cardiff City, Poortvliet recorded his first win three days later, beating Exeter City 3–1 in the League Cup; his first league win followed at Derby County in August 2008. Following a run of one win in 14 home games, he resigned on 23 January 2009, with Wotte taking over.

Return to the Netherlands

On 15 June 2009, Poortvliet was appointed manager of Eerste Divisie club FC Eindhoven, leading the side to the…

Poortvliet was born on 21 September 1955 in Arnemuiden, Zeeland, the eldest of seven children; his father, Klaas, had been a prolific amateur forward in the town. He began playing for the local club VV Arnemuiden at the age of seven and worked as an apprentice carpenter. Spotted as a centre-back at a KNVB trial for 16- and 17-year-olds in Zeist, he signed for PSV in 1972 and joined the reserve team.