How the perfect Ronald Koeman and the underrated Erwin drove the Netherlands to

On Feb 19, 2021

On reflection, the Netherlands side of 1988 had pretty much everything. The legendary Rinus Michels in charge, Marco van Basten and Ruud Gullit leading the line up front; even the kit was perfect. Such a team were orchestrated from the back by sweeper Ronald Koeman, a man renowned for his toughness in the tackle, pinpoint passing and accuracy from set-pieces.

In the spirit of Totaalvoetbal, Koeman enjoyed an otherworldly relationship with his teammates. There was however one player with whom this bond extended beyond anything even the best coach could instil. On the left wing of Michels’ 4-4-2 system was Ronald’s older brother Erwin. To this day the pair remain the only siblings to play together in a European Championship final.

The journey to this accolade began in the nondescript city of Zaandam in North Holland. Erwin was born here in September 1961, with Ronald arriving some 18 months later in March 1963. Immediately pedigree was there. The boys’ father Martin was also a footballer, playing over 500 times for Groningen and their predecessors GVAV. Owing to his influence the Koeman boys would grow up in the city and begin their careers at its premier club.

As the older brother, Erwin was naturally first to make his professional debut, in early May 1979 in a top of the table clash in the second tier with Excelsior. A midfielder capable of playing either on the left or down the middle, after just a dozen games he was signed that summer by PSV Eindhoven. In these initial three seasons at Philips Stadion though Erwin would fail to break into the first team, and in 1982 he returned to Groningen.

By this stage, Ronald was firmly established as the side’s star. The sweeper made his debut a year after Erwin against NEC in September 1980, becoming Groningen’s third youngest ever player in the process. Quickly however his completeness, with an equal ability to create goals and stop them, signalled he was destined for greatness. In his first full season, Ronald helped get Groningen promoted, and in the 1982/83 Eredivisie the brothers played side by side in a team that ultimately finished fifth.

The Koemans were now internationals, making their debut in April 1983 in a friendly against Sweden. The performances of Ronald, however, meant he especially was being courted by bigger clubs. In the summer of 1983 he transferred to Ajax, where he would win the Eredivisie in 1985 and KNVB Cup a year later. Erwin, meanwhile, decided his future lay across the Belgian border at rich upstarts KV Mechelen.

Back in the Netherlands, in the summer of 1986, Ronald made the controversial decision to swap Amsterdam for reigning champions PSV. With hindsight, it would prove inspired. Two further Dutch titles and the 1988 European Cup were added to his trophy cabinet. Koeman opened the scoring in the victorious penalty shootout against Benfica, scoring 26 further goals across the campaign despite playing largely at centre back.

That…