Robin van der Laan

Robertus Petrus van der Laan (born 5 September 1968) is a Dutch former football player and manager.

He began his playing career in his native Netherlands with Eerste Divisie club Schiedamse Voetbal Vereniging in 1987 before moving on to Wageningen in 1990. In 1991, he moved to England to play for Port Vale, where after four seasons as one of the club's key players, he was sold to Derby County. He won the Football League Trophy with Vale in 1993, and won promotion out of the Second Division in 1993–94. He also won promotion out of the First Division with Derby in 1995–96. In 1998, he transferred to Barnsley, where he saw out his professional playing career until his retirement due to injury in 2001. He made 315 appearances in a ten-year career in the English Football League.

As a coach, he directed his own football school in Canada and was a senior coach for Manchester United Soccer Schools before he was appointed manager of Newcastle Town in February 2018. He stayed in the role for five years.

Playing career Netherlands Van der Laan started his career at Eerste Divisie side Schiedamse Voetbal Vereniging in 1987. The club finished in mid-table in 1987–88 and 1988–89, before winning promotion to the Eredivisie as 1989–90 Eerste Divisie champions. However, he remained in the Dutch second tier as he switched to Wageningen midway through the 1989–90 season. In four years in the Netherlands, he played 59 games for SVV and 27 for Wageningen. He decided to leave his home country after picking up a 14-match ban from the Dutch leagues.

Port Vale He was signed by English Second Division side Port Vale in February 1991 for a fee of £80,000 after impressing on trial. Instantly recognisable for his mane of long blonde hair, Van der Laan soon became a popular figure with the Vale fans, his bustling style and midfield engine enabled him to settle into the English game very quickly, as he hit four goals in 18 games in 1990–91.

He made 49 appearances in 1991–92, scoring six goals, including a strike in front of the Kop in a 2–2 League Cup draw with Liverpool. Despite his contribution, Vale were relegated, though due to the creation of the Premier League, the Third Division became the Second Division. He made 53 appearances in 1992–93, scoring ten goals, helping the "Valiants" to both the Football League Trophy final and the play-off final. Vale beat Stockport County 2–1 in the cup final at Wembley, but lost 3–0 to West Bromwich Albion in the play-off final. However, he sometimes failed to make the starting eleven due to the form of central midfield rivals Andy Porter, Ian Taylor and Paul Kerr, and submitted a transfer request in February 1993 to find first-team football elsewhere.

Vale went on to win promotion into the First Division in 1993–94, following a second-place finish. He was again a key player at Vale Park in 1994–95, as the club retained their second-tier status. However, his good looks and popularity with the Vale fans saw him targeted by the more thuggish element of rivals Stoke City. He was punched in the face whilst inside a pizza and kebab house in Newcastle-under-Lyme on 18 June 1995. He later played for Newcastle Town, after coming out of retirement in September 2003.

Style of play Van der Laan spent most of his career as a box-to-box midfielder, having spent his early days as a forward. A brave and aggressive player, he was well suited to the English game.

Coaching career Van der Laan worked as the Head International Coach for Manchester United Soccer Schools. He set up The Robin van der Laan Soccer School and Academy in Canada. He was appointed assistant manager at Newcastle Town in May 2014. He was taken ill whilst coaching for Manchester United in Saudi Arabia in May 2016 and underwent heart surgery.

On 26 February 2018, Van der Laan was appointed as manager at Newcastle Town, who were then fifth-bottom of the Northern Premier League Division One South. The "Castle" finished third-bottom at the end of the 2017–18 season, then 15th in the Division One West in 2018–19 and were 17th in the Division One South-East by the time the 2019–20 season was abandoned due to the COVID-19 pandemic in England. The 2020–21 season was also abandoned. Newcastle finished 16th and 15th in the Northern Premier League Division One West in the 2021–22 and 2022–23 seasons. He resigned as manager in the summer of 2023, though he remained as a director at the club.

Personal life His son, Tommy, played non-League football for Newcastle Town.

Career statistics + Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals

1987–88 Eerste Divisie

1988–89 Eerste Divisie

1989–90 Eerste Divisie

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Football League Second Division second-place promotion: 1993–94

Derby County Football League First Division second-place promotion: 1995–96