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{{Short description|Dutch footballer and manager (1928–2005)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Rinus Michels
| image = Koppen Nederlandse voetballers Rinus Michels, Bestanddeelnr 254-9536 2.jpg
| image_size = 
| caption = Michels in 1974
| full_name = Marinus Jacobus Hendricus Michels
| birth_date = {{birth date|1928|2|9|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Amsterdam]], Netherlands
| death_date = {{death date and age|2005|3|3|1928|2|9|df=yes}}
| death_place = [[Aalst, Belgium|Aalst]], Belgium
| height = 1.86 m
| position = [[Forward (association football)|Forward]]
| youthyears1 = 1940–1946
| youthclubs1 = [[AFC Ajax|Ajax]]
| years1 = 1945–1958
| caps1 = 264
| goals1 = 122
| clubs1 = [[AFC Ajax|Ajax]]
| nationalyears1 = 1950–1954
| nationalcaps1 = 5<ref name="voetbalstats.nl">{{cite web|url=https://voetbalstats.nl/spelerlandnedxi.php?persid=337|title=Rinus Michels - Interlands Nederlands elftal|language=nl|website=voetbalstats.nl}}</ref>
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| nationalteam1 = [[Netherlands national football team|Netherlands]]
| manageryears1 = 1953–1954
| managerclubs1 = Asser Boys
| manageryears2 = 1960–1964
| managerclubs2 = [[JOS Watergraafsmeer|JOS]]
| manageryears3 = 1964–1965
| managerclubs3 = [[Amsterdamsche Football Club|A.F.C.]]
| manageryears4 = 1965–1971
| managerclubs4 = [[AFC Ajax|Ajax]]
| manageryears5 = 1971–1975
| managerclubs5 = [[FC Barcelona|Barcelona]]
| manageryears6 = 1974
| managerclubs6 = [[Netherlands national football team|Netherlands]]
| manageryears7 = 1975–1976
| managerclubs7 = [[AFC Ajax|Ajax]]
| manageryears8 = 1976–1978
| managerclubs8 = [[FC Barcelona|Barcelona]]
| manageryears9 = 1979–1980
| managerclubs9 = [[Los Angeles Aztecs]]
| manageryears10 = 1980–1983
| managerclubs10 = [[1. FC Köln]]
| manageryears11 = 1984–1985
| managerclubs11 = [[Netherlands national football team|Netherlands]]
| manageryears12 = 1986–1988
| managerclubs12 = [[Netherlands national football team|Netherlands]]
| manageryears13 = 1988–1989
| managerclubs13 = [[Bayer 04 Leverkusen|Bayer Leverkusen]]
| manageryears14 = 1990–1992
| managerclubs14 = [[Netherlands national football team|Netherlands]]
| medaltemplates = {{Medal|Sport|Men's [[Association football|football]]}}
{{Medal|Country|{{fb|NED}}}} <small>(as manager)</small>
{{Medal|Comp|[[UEFA European Championship]]}}
{{Medal|W|[[UEFA Euro 1988|1988 West Germany]]|}}
{{Medal|Comp|[[FIFA World Cup]]}}
{{Medal|RU|[[1974 FIFA World Cup|1974 West Germany]]|}}
}}
'''Marinus Jacobus Hendricus''' "'''Rinus'''" '''Michels''' ({{IPA|nl|ˈrinʏs ˈmɪxəls|audio=Nl-Rinus_Michels.ogg}}; 9 February 1928 &ndash; 3 March 2005) was a Dutch [[Association football|football]] player and coach.<ref name="uefa"/><ref>{{cite news |title=Rinus Michels; Dutch coach who invented 'total football' |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/rinus-michels-527100.html |access-date=17 February 2021 |work=[[The Independent]]}}</ref> He [[list of one-club men in association football|played his entire career]] for [[AFC Ajax|Ajax]], which he later managed, and played for and later managed the [[Netherlands national football team|Netherlands national team]] for four spells. Throughout his career, he played as a [[Forward (association football)|forward]]. He is regarded as one of the greatest managers of all time.<ref name="uefa"/><ref name="The Times">{{Cite web |date=2024-07-25 |title=The Times & The Sunday Times |url=https://www.thetimes.com/ |access-date=2024-07-25 |website=www.thetimes.com |language=en}}</ref><ref name="Top10">{{cite web |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/0235-0e96072f42b5-cab6032c32e7-1000--coaching-greats-in-profile/ |title=Coaching greats in profile |publisher=UEFA |date=13 January 2017 |access-date=15 January 2017}}</ref>

Michels became most notable for his coaching achievements; he won the [[UEFA Champions League|European Cup]] with Ajax and the [[La Liga|Spanish league]] with [[FC Barcelona|Barcelona]], and had four tenures as coach of the Netherlands national team, who he led to reach the final of the [[1974 FIFA World Cup]] and to win the [[UEFA Euro 1988|1988 UEFA European Championship]].<ref name="uefa"/>

He is credited with the invention of a major football playing style and set of tactics known as "[[Total Football]]" in the 1970s.<ref name="uefa">{{cite news | first=Berend | last=Scholten | title=Michels – a total footballing legend | url=http://www.uefa.org/about-uefa/history/obituaries/newsid=285010.html |publisher=UEFA| date=3 March 2005 | access-date=29 January 2007}}</ref> He was named Coach of the Century by [[FIFA]] in 1999,<ref name="uefa"/> in 2007 the greatest post-war football coach by ''[[The Times]]''<ref name="The Times"/> and in 2019 the greatest coach in the history of football by ''[[France Football]]''.<ref name="Top6FF">{{cite web |url=https://www.francefootball.fr/magazine/?prov=W-HP-LBMU|title=Top 50 des coaches de l'historie|publisher=France Football |date=19 March 2019 |access-date=19 March 2019}}</ref>

==Playing career==
===Early life===
Michels was born in [[Amsterdam]] and grew up at the Olympiaweg, a street near the [[Olympisch Stadion (Amsterdam)|Olympic Stadium]]. He celebrated his ninth birthday on 9 February 1937, when he received a pair of football boots and an [[AFC Ajax|Ajax]] jersey. Moments later, he was playing with his father at a small field near their home.<ref name="droom">{{cite news | title=Droomland | url=http://www.rinus-michels.info/biografie1.shtml | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041020004440/http://www.rinus-michels.info/biografie1.shtml | url-status=usurped | archive-date=20 October 2004 | publisher=rinus-michels.info| access-date=30 January 2007}}</ref> Via Joop Köhler, a friend of the family who was commissioner at Ajax, Michels was introduced to the club and became a junior member in 1940.<ref name="droom"/> When [[World War II]] started, and especially during the [[Dutch famine of 1944–45]], Michels' career was set on hold.<ref name="droom"/>

French club [[Lille OSC|Lille]] had also wanted to sign Michels, but a playing career abroad did not materialize, as the [[Royal Netherlands Army]] did not allow him to go because he had to serve on active duty.<ref name="droom"/>

===Ajax first team===
[[File:Rinus Michels (1954).jpg|thumb|left|upright|Michels in 1954]]
On 9 June 1946, Michels was invited into Ajax's first team squad to replace the injured Han Lambregt. In his debut, Ajax beat [[ADO Den Haag|ADO]] 8–3, and Michels scored five times.<ref name="droom"/> That season, Ajax won their 14th division championship and a year later they won the [[Eredivisie|Dutch national championship]].<ref name="droom"/> Although there were doubts about Michels' technical skills, team members like [[Cor van der Hart]] and captain [[Joop Stoffelen]] were enthusiastic about his strength and heading capabilities.<ref name="droom"/> Indeed, Michels was characterized for his hard work rather than for his technical qualities.<ref name="Times">{{cite news | url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,60-1509526,00.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021183927/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,60-1509526,00.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=21 October 2012 | author=The Times Online |work=The Times| title=Rinus Michels obituary | access-date=1 February 2007 | location=London | date=4 March 2005}}</ref>

He went on to become a regular for the club, and between 1946 and 1958, he appeared in 264 league matches for Ajax, in which he scored 122 goals.<ref name="droom"/> In 1958, four years after the introduction of professional football in the Netherlands and one year after winning his second league title, he was forced to end his career due to a back injury.<ref name="droom"/>

===National team===
Michels' international playing career with the [[Netherlands national football team|Netherlands national team]] lasted five matches, making his debut on 8 June 1950 away to [[Sweden men's national football team|Sweden]], a 4–1 defeat.<ref name="vstats">{{cite news | title= Rinus Michels – 09 februari 1928 | url=http://www.voetbalstats.nl/nedxi/sp337.html | publisher=voetbalstats.nl| access-date=30 January 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070128010531/http://www.voetbalstats.nl/nedxi/sp337.html <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 28 January 2007|language=nl}}</ref> He also lost all of his remaining matches as an ''Oranje'' player, 4–1 to [[Finland national football team|Finland]], 4–0 to [[Belgium national football team|Belgium]], 6–1 to Sweden and 3–1 to [[Switzerland national football team|Switzerland]].<ref name="vstats"/>

==Coaching career==
===Early years in the Netherlands, Ajax, and Barcelona===
[[File:FC Barcelona op Schiphol, van links naar rechts Neesken Michels en Cruijff op S, Bestanddeelnr 928-7164.jpg|thumb|Three of the most notable figures of the ''[[Totaalvoetbal]]'' school: [[Johan Neeskens]], Michels and [[Johan Cruyff]]]]
Michels returned to Ajax as head coach in 1965. Under his tenure and along with great players such as [[Johan Cruyff]] and [[Johan Neeskens]], Ajax went from relegation candidates to a team that won the national championship four times and the [[KNVB Cup]] three times in the following six years. In 1969, they reached the final of the [[1968–69 European Cup|European Cup]] for the first time, being defeated 4–1 by Italian side [[A.C. Milan|Milan]]. In 1971, he managed Ajax to the first of three consecutive [[UEFA Champions League|European Cup]]s, a feat only achieved previously by the great [[Real Madrid C.F.|Real Madrid]] team of [[Alfredo Di Stéfano]] and [[Ferenc Puskás]]. While at Ajax, Michels modernized the game by introducing what became known as "[[Total Football]]" and using the [[Offside trap]]. He then moved to [[FC Barcelona|Barcelona]] in the second part of 1971, being joined by Johan Cruyff in 1973. With Michels and Cruyff, the team won the [[La Liga|Primera División]] title in 1974, before Michels became manager of the Dutch national team.<ref name="uefa"/>

===1974 World Cup===
Michels was appointed national coach by the [[Royal Dutch Football Association]] (KNVB) after the Netherlands had qualified for the [[1974 FIFA World Cup]]. His first game as the Netherlands' coach was on 27 March 1974 in a 1–1 draw against [[Austria national football team|Austria]]. At the finals tournament in Germany, their third ever World Cup participation, the Dutch impressed many observers with their style of play which was backed up by their results; they won their first round group, then in the second round group they defeated [[Argentina national football team|Argentina]] and the defending world champions [[Brazil national football team|Brazil]], and reached the final after five wins and one draw, with 14 goals scored and only one conceded in six matches. At that point, Michels was undefeated in nine matches as the Netherlands' coach. The Netherlands scored first against [[Germany national football team|West Germany]] in the [[1974 FIFA World Cup Final|final]], but the host team came back to defeat them 2–1, ending their run. That match was the last of Michels' first tenure in charge of the Dutch team, which he would return to coach ten years later.

===Later years===
[[File:Los Angeles Aztecs 1979 media guide cover.png|thumb|right|upright|Michels with the [[Los Angeles Aztecs]] in 1979]]
Michels later moved on to the United States where he coached in the ill-fated [[North American Soccer League (1968–1984)|North American Soccer League]]. He ended his club coaching career with [[Bayer 04 Leverkusen|Bayer Leverkusen]] in 1989. He had his ''jour de gloire'', however, when he coached the Dutch team to European glory at the [[UEFA Euro 1988|1988 UEFA European Championship]].

===European champions===
[[File:EK voetbal in West Duitsland Nederland tegen Ierland 1 bondscoach Rinus Michel, Bestanddeelnr 934-2693.jpg|thumb|left|240px|Michels (right) with his assistant manager [[Nol de Ruiter]] at [[UEFA Euro 1988]]]]
Michels returned to coach the team for the Euro 1988 tournament. After losing the first group match against the [[Soviet Union national football team|Soviet Union]] (1–0), the Netherlands went on to qualify for the semi-final by defeating [[England national football team|England]] 3–1 (with a hat-trick by the tournament's top scorer [[Marco van Basten]]), and the [[Republic of Ireland national football team|Republic of Ireland]] (1–0). For many Dutch football supporters, the most important match in the tournament was the semi-final against West Germany, the host country, considered a revenge for the lost 1974 World Cup final (also in West Germany). Michels said after the match, "We won the tournament, but we all know that the semi-final was the real final." Van Basten, who would later become national team coach, scored in the 89th minute of the game to sink the German side. The game is also remembered for its post-match shenanigans, including [[Ronald Koeman]], who, in front of the German supporters, provocatively pretended to wipe his backside with the shirt of [[Olaf Thon]] as if it were toilet paper, an action Koeman later did not regret. The Netherlands won the final with a convincing victory over the Soviet Union, a rematch on the round robin game, through a header by [[Ruud Gullit]] and a remarkable volley by Van Basten. This was the national team's first, and to date only, major tournament win and it restored them to the forefront of international football after almost a decade in the wilderness for almost three years to come.

==Death==
Michels died on 3 March 2005 at a hospital in [[Aalst, Belgium]], after a heart surgery in the hospital of Gareth, Spain (his second since 1986).

==Style of management, personality and legacy==
[[File:Ajax in retraite in Wassenaar voor de halve Cupfinale tegen Spartak v.l.n.r. Mic, Bestanddeelnr 922-2907.jpg|thumb|left|Rinus Michels with [[Velibor Vasović]] and [[Heinz Stuy]] in 1969]]
Regarded as one of the greatest managers of all time,<ref name="uefa"/><ref name="The Times"/><ref name="Top10"/> Rinus Michels's tactics and ''Total football'' philosophy were influenced by his time playing under English manager [[Jack Reynolds (footballer, born 1881)|Jack Reynolds]] at Ajax, who had implemented a similar playing style with the club to great success in the 1940s.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Shetty|first=Sanjeev|title=Total Football - A graphic history of the world's most iconic soccer tactics|publisher=Aurum Press|year=2018|isbn=9781781318225|location=London|pages=64}}</ref> When Michels himself later became manager of Ajax in 1965, he further developed this style around the team's main [[Forward (association football)|forward]] Johan Cruyff.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/classicfootball/coaches/coach=33960/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080304020009/http://www.fifa.com/classicfootball/coaches/coach=33960/index.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=4 March 2008|title=Classic Coach: Rinus Michels|work=Classic Football|publisher=Fédération Internationale de Football Association|access-date=13 June 2008}}</ref> Although Cruyff was seemingly fielded as centre forward, Michels encouraged Cruyff to roam freely around the pitch, using his technical ability, creativity, and intelligence to exploit the weaknesses in the opposition and create space and chances in addition to scoring goals. Cruyff's teammates also supported him by playing him in a similar manner, regularly switching positions to ensure that the tactical roles in the team were consistently filled.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20150930160041/http://www.fifa.com/fifa-tournaments/players-coaches/people=1043/profile.html 'FIFA Classic Player: The Netherlands' Grand Master]. FIFA.com. Retrieved 14 July 2014</ref> This role has retroactively been compared to the "[[false 9]]" position in contemporary football.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.worldsoccer.com/blogs/in-search-of-johan-cruijff-338140|author=Rainbow, Jamie |title=In Search Of Johan Cruijff...|publisher=WorldSoccer|date=25 November 2012 |access-date=25 September 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sportskeeda.com/football/johan-cruyff-making-generations-football-ajax-barcelona-netherlands |author=Sindhu, Anand |title=Johan Cruyff: The making of generations in football |publisher=Sportskeeda.com |date=22 February 2014 |access-date=22 September 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.onefootball.com/magazine/false-nine-explained/ |author=Nobles, Kevin |title=The False Nine Explained |work=The Onefootball Magazine |date=2 March 2016 |access-date=22 September 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161002053751/https://www.onefootball.com/magazine/false-nine-explained/ |archive-date=2 October 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Michels's favoured formation was the [[Formation (association football)#4–3–3|4–3–3]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/barcelona-johan-cruyff-tactics-reinvented-modern-football-total-passing-pressing-nou-camp-champions-league-pep-guardiola |title=How Johan Cruyff reinvented modern football at Barcelona |publisher=FourFourTwo.com |last1=Murray |first1=Andrew |date=24 March 2020 |access-date=29 April 2024 }}</ref>

The major component of total football was the use of space, and the need to consistently create it. Former Ajax defender [[Barry Hulshoff]] described it as "[the thing] we discussed the whole time. Cruyff always talked about where to run and where to stand, and when not to move".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sportacademy/hi/sa/football/features/newsid_3301000/3301407.stm|title=Johan Cruyff: The Total Footballer|work=Sport Academy|publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation|access-date=13 June 2008 | date=10 December 2003}}</ref> He further elaborated that position switching was only made possible due to apt spatial awareness.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.britishcouncil.org/UK/japan-sport-footballculture-teams-ground-ajax.htm|title=Ground Breaking Team: Ajax 1973|work=Football Culture|publisher=The British Council in Japan|access-date=13 June 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071217125531/http://www.britishcouncil.org/UK/japan-sport-footballculture-teams-ground-ajax.htm|archive-date=17 December 2007}}</ref> He also described Total Football being [[Proactivity|proactive]], as well as highlighting the use of pressing, which would be used to win back the ball or put the opposition under considerable pressure.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://sport.scotsman.com/south-africa-world-cup-2010/World-Cup-2010-Dutch-were.6413230.jp|title=World Cup 2010: Dutch were pioneers of Total Football, but after exporting it to Spain must now stop opponents at their own game|last=Wilson|first=Jonathan|author-link=Jonathan Wilson (journalist/author)|date=11 July 2010|access-date=24 July 2010|work=[[The Scotsman]]}}</ref> Another aspect of the system was the use of the offside trap.<ref name="uefa"/> Under Michels's system, Ajax enjoyed a highly successful period, winning four [[Eredivisie]] titles, three [[KNVB Cup]]s, and one [[UEFA Champions League|European Cup]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.fifa.com/clubworldcup/news/y=2005/m=12/news=are-the-champions-101662.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208150054/http://www.fifa.com/clubworldcup/news/y=2005/m=12/news=are-the-champions-101662.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=8 December 2015 |title=We are the champions |publisher=FIFA.com |date=11 December 2005 |access-date=24 March 2016}}</ref>

The rise of Total Football and its attacking qualities were also linked with the demise of the more defensive–minded ''[[Catenaccio]]'', a system reliant heavily on man-marking and counter–attacking, which was promoted most prominently by Italian sides [[Inter Milan|Internazionale]] and [[A.C. Milan|Milan]] during the 1960s under [[Helenio Herrera]] and [[Nereo Rocco]] respectively.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.europeancuphistory.com/euro72.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929083240/http://www.europeancuphistory.com/euro72.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=29 September 2007|title=Season 1971-72|publisher=European Cup History|access-date=13 June 2008}}</ref> Unlike previous systems, in ''Total Football'', no out–field player was fixed in their nominal role, which exposed weaknesses in the ''catenaccio'' tactical system; any player could assume the role of a forward, midfielder, or defender, at any given time depending on the circumstances. Due to players often switching positions with one another, man-marking strategies, such as ''catenaccio'', were no longer effective at coping with this highly fluid tactical system.<ref name="Storie di schemi: l'evoluzione della tattica">{{cite web |url=https://storiedicalcio.altervista.org/blog/storie-di-schemi.html |title=Storie di schemi: l'evoluzione della tattica |publisher=Storie di Calcio |language=it |access-date=19 May 2020 }}</ref><ref name="tactical fads"/><ref name="What is Total Football?"/><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2009/dec/23/the-question-football-tactics-develop-decade |title=The Question: How will football tactics develop over the next decade? |work=The Guardian |last1=Wilson |first1=Jonathan |date=23 December 2009 |access-date=21 May 2020 }}</ref> Despite previously losing out 4–1 to Milan in the [[1969 European Cup Final]], who were managed by Rocco, a manager known for his defensive catenaccio strategy,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/62526--milan-vs-ajax/?referrer=%2Fuefachampionsleague%2Fseason%3D1968%2Fmatches%2Fround%3D960%2Fmatch%3D62526%2Findex |title=Milan 4–1 Ajax |publisher=UEFA |access-date=21 May 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.gazzetta.it/Dream_Cup/Primo_Piano/2007/07_Luglio/Milan_69.shtml |title=Il mondo ai piedi del Milan di Rocco |work=La Gazzetta dello Sport |language=it |access-date=21 May 2020 }}</ref> in 1971, Michels's [[AFC Ajax|Ajax]] won the [[1971 European Cup Final|European Cup Final]], defeating [[Panathinaikos F.C.|Panathinaikos]] 2–0, using ''Total Football''.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Maldonado 'Maldini' |first1=Julio |last2=Leveridge |first2=Sam |title=The 50 best games in history: Ajax 2-0 Panathinaikos, European Cup 1971 |url=https://www.marca.com/en/football/international-football/2020/04/14/5e90e91c22601da4138b466f.html |website=Marca |access-date=10 February 2024}}</ref> The following year, Michels's successor at Ajax, [[Ștefan Kovács]], continued to use Michels's ''Total Football'' philosophy, and defeated Inter 2–0 in the [[1972 European Cup Final|European Cup final]]; Dutch newspapers subsequently announced the "destruction of ''Catenaccio''" at the hands of ''Total Football''.<ref name="tactical fads">{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/12019180/From-2-3-5-to-gegenpress-how-footballs-tactical-fads-have-come-and-gone.html |title=From 2-3-5 to gegenpress: how football's tactical fads have come and gone |work=The Daily Telegraph |last1=Liew |first1=Jonathan |date=27 November 2015 |access-date=21 May 2020 }}</ref><ref name="What is Total Football?">{{cite web |url=https://www.goal.com/en/news/what-is-total-football-famous-tactics-explained-the-clubs/w5yd5dzofn4p17ewmav4atk2b |title=What is Total Football? Famous tactics explained: the clubs, countries & players to use it |publisher=Goal.com |last1=Siregar |first1=Cady |date=13 December 2018 |access-date=21 May 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/history/video/finals/021d-0e6653d80aec-04796f31296d-1000--1972-final-highlights-ajax-2-0-inter/ |title=1972 final highlights: Ajax 2-0 Inter |publisher=UEFA |date=25 January 2015 |access-date=21 May 2020 }}</ref> The following year, Ajax defeated [[Cesare Maldini]]'s Milan 6–0 in the second leg of the [[1973 European Super Cup|European Super Cup]], in a match in which the defensive ''catenaccio'' system employed by Milan was unable to stop Ajax, which saw the Dutch side win the title 6–1 on aggregate; this was the worst defeat for an Italian team in an UEFA competition final.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.uefa.com/competitions/supercup/history/season=1973/intro.html |publisher=[[UEFA]] |access-date=14 March 2008 |title=Ajax enjoy early success |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080303183517/http://www.uefa.com/competitions/supercup/history/season%3D1973/intro.html |archive-date=3 March 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Total football also had some weaknesses, however, which were notably exploited in the final of the [[1974 FIFA World Cup]] by [[Germany national football team|West Germany]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/archive/edition=39/overview.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070911111241/http://fifa.com/worldcup/archive/edition=39/overview.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=11 September 2007|title=1974 FIFA World Cup Germany: Dutch take plaudits but Germany take the prize|work=Previous FIFA World Cups|publisher=Fédération Internationale de Football Association|access-date=13 June 2008}}</ref> Michels and Cruyff saw their ability to introduce playmaking stifled in the second half of the match by the effective marking of [[Berti Vogts]]. This allowed [[Franz Beckenbauer]], [[Uli Hoeneß]], and [[Wolfgang Overath]] to gain a stronghold in midfield, thus, enabling West Germany to win 2–1.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,2144,1486199,00.html|title=World Cup Final, 1974: West Germany vs. The Netherlands|work=The Making of a World Cup Legend|publisher=Deutsche Welle|access-date=13 June 2008}}</ref> Moreover, as man-marking alone was insufficient to cope with the fluidity of ''total football'', Italian coaches consequently began to create a new tactical system that mixed man-marking with zonal defence in order to counter this strategy, which came to be known as ''[[zona mista]]'' ("mixed zone," in Italian), or ''gioco all'italiana'' ("gameplay in the Italian manner," in Italian), in Italian football, as it mixed elements of Italian ''catenaccio'' ([[Marking (association football)#Man-to-man marking|man-marking]]) with elements of ''total football'' ([[Marking (association football)#Zonal marking|zonal marking]]), with [[Giovanni Trapattoni]] as one its main and most successful proponents from the 1970s onward.<ref name="Storie di schemi: l'evoluzione della tattica"/><ref name="tactical fads"/><ref name="What is Total Football?"/>

Michels became known as someone keen on his money and did not want to spend much of it. A common joke in the Ajax changing rooms in those days was, "Does anybody know the color of Michels' wallet?".<ref name="droom"/> His [[IQ]] was high. During foreign trips he always brought a book with him, which he wanted to have read completely before coming home.<ref name="droom"/> He was known as someone who did not need anybody and who felt happy on his own, but sometimes he joined his teammates and shared their enthusiastic friendships.<ref name="droom"/> At the celebrations of Ajax' 50th birthday in 1950, he was the organizer of the humoristic show that was held and during traditional parties, he and his friend [[Hans Boskamp]] climbed up the stages to sing some duets.<ref name="droom"/> After matches, he was always soaping his hot body down in the showers of the changing rooms as well, even when the game was lost.<ref name="droom"/>

Michels was also known as a [[practical joke]]r. At a hotel, he once borrowed a [[fur coat]] of a lady and pretended to be a lady to his teammates.<ref name="droom"/> During a training session in [[Lille]], the players went fishing and Michels, who did not enjoy himself, jumped into the water.<ref name="droom"/>

Due to his authoritarian style as coach, Michels was called "The General". He said, "Professional football is something like war. Whoever behaves too properly, is lost."<ref>In [[Dutch language|Dutch]]: "Topvoetbal is zoiets als oorlog. Wie netjes blijft, is verloren".</ref> This has often been misquoted as "Football is war." Michels felt the quote was taken out of context as he did not intend to equate war with football.<ref name="nrc">{{cite news | title=NRC Handelsblad | url=http://www.nrc.nl/krant/article90595.ece | publisher=NRC Handelsblad| access-date=1 December 2007}}</ref> Michels was named coach of the century by [[FIFA]] in 1999.<ref name="uefa"/> In 2007 he was named the greatest post-war football coach by ''The Times'',<ref name="The Times"/> and in 2019, he was listed as the greatest coach in the history of football by France Football.<ref name="Top6FF"/>

The [[Rinus Michels Award]], which rewards the best managers in [[Football in the Netherlands|Dutch football]], is named in his honour.<ref name="uefa"/>

==Career statistics==
===Club===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
|-
!rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season
!colspan="3"|League
|-
!Division!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|rowspan="13"|[[AFC Ajax|Ajax]]||[[Netherlands Football League Championship 1945–46|1945–46]]||rowspan="11"|[[Eredivisie|Football League Championship]]||12||13
|-
|[[Netherlands Football League Championship 1946–47|1946–47]]||28||14
|-
|[[Netherlands Football League Championship 1947–48|1947–48]]||5||3
|-
|[[Netherlands Football League Championship 1948–49|1948–49]]||20||7
|-
|[[Netherlands Football League Championship 1949–50|1949–50]]||26||16
|-
|[[Netherlands Football League Championship 1950–51|1950–51]]||14||5
|-
|[[Netherlands Football League Championship 1951–52|1951–52]]||19||15
|-
|[[Netherlands Football League Championship 1952–53|1952–53]]||20||8
|-
|[[Netherlands Football League Championship 1953–54|1953–54]]||26||12
|-
|[[Netherlands Football League Championship 1954–55|1954–55]]||33||14
|-
|[[Netherlands Football League Championship 1955–56|1955–56]]||30||8
|-
|[[Eredivisie 1956-57|1956–57]]||rowspan="2"|[[Eredivisie]]||29||7
|-
|[[Eredivisie 1957-58|1957–58]]||2||0
|-
!colspan=3|Career total
!264||122
|}

===International===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year<ref name="voetbalstats.nl" />
|-
!National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|rowspan="5"|[[Netherlands national football team|Netherlands]]
|1950||2||0
|-
|1951||0||0
|-
|1952||0||0
|-
|1953||0||0
|-
|1954||3||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total!!5!!0
|}

==Managerial statistics==
{| class=wikitable style=text-align:center
|+ Managerial record by team and tenure
|-
!rowspan=2|Team
!rowspan=2|From
!rowspan=2|To
!colspan=5|Record
|-
!{{abbr|P|Matches played}}!!{{abbr|W|Matches won}}!!{{abbr|D|Matches drawn}}!!{{abbr|L|Matches lost}}!!{{abbr|Win %|Win percentage}}
|-
|align=left|[[AFC Ajax|Ajax]]
|align=left|22 January 1965
|align=left|30 June 1971
{{WDL|288|207|41|40|decimals=2}}
|-
|align=left|[[FC Barcelona|Barcelona]]
|align=left|1 July 1971
|align=left|30 June 1975
{{WDL|174|88|43|43|decimals=2}}
|-
|align=left|[[Netherlands national football team|Netherlands]]
|align=left|27 March 1974
|align=left|7 July 1974
{{WDL|10|6|3|1|decimals=2}}
|-
|align=left|Ajax
|align=left|1 July 1975
|align=left|30 June 1976
{{WDL|43|27|8|8|decimals=2}}
|-
|align=left|Barcelona
|align=left|1 July 1976
|align=left|30 June 1978
{{WDL|94|47|25|22|decimals=2}}
|-
|align=left|[[Los Angeles Aztecs]]
|align=left|1 July 1978
|align=left|13 October 1980
{{WDL|72|42|1|29|decimals=2}}
|-
|align=left|[[1. FC Köln]]
|align=left|14 October 1980
|align=left|23 August 1983
{{WDL|116|58|26|32|decimals=2}}
|-
|align=left|Netherlands
|align=left|14 November 1984
|align=left|23 December 1984
{{WDL|2|1|0|1|decimals=2}}
|-
|align=left|Netherlands
|align=left|29 April 1986
|align=left|25 June 1988
{{WDL|22|12|6|4|decimals=2}}
|-
|align=left|[[Bayer 04 Leverkusen|Bayer Leverkusen]]
|align=left|1 July 1988
|align=left|13 April 1989
{{WDL|31|10|11|10|decimals=2}}
|-
|align=left|Netherlands
|align=left|26 September 1990
|align=left|22 June 1992
{{WDL|19|11|4|4|decimals=2}}
|-
!colspan=3|{{abbr|Total|Los Angeles Aztecs statistics missing}}
{{WDLtot|871|509|168|194|decimals=2}}
|}

===Netherlands===
{| class=wikitable style=text-align:center
|-
!rowspan=2|Team
!colspan=8|Record
|-
!{{abbr|P|Matches played}}!!{{abbr|W|Matches won}}!!{{abbr|D|Matches drawn}}!!{{abbr|L|Matches lost}}!!{{abbr|GF|Goals for}}!!{{abbr|GA|Goals against}}!!{{abbr|GD|Goal difference}}!!{{abbr|Win %|Win percentage}}
|-
|align=left|[[Netherlands national football team|Netherlands]]
{{WDL|53|30|13|10|for=98|against=32|diff=yes}}
|-
|}

==Honours==

===Player===
'''Ajax'''<ref name="FIFA Profile 12">[https://web.archive.org/web/20140104204332/http://www.fifa.com/classicfootball/players/player=1043/ "The Netherlands' Grand Master"]. FIFA.com. Retrieved 15 May 2014</ref>
*[[Eredivisie|Netherlands Football League Championship/Eredivisie]]: [[1946–47 Netherlands Football League Championship|1946–47]], [[1956–57 Eredivisie|1956–57]]

===Manager===
[[File:Ontvangst Nederlands elftal op Paleis Huis ten Bosch na 1988 in de tuin van het, Bestanddeelnr 934-2766.jpg|thumb|Michels with [[Beatrix of the Netherlands|Queen Beatrix]] and the Dutch team after winning [[UEFA Euro 1988|Euro '88]].]]
'''Ajax'''<ref name="FIFA Profile 12" />
*[[Eredivisie]]: [[1965–66 Eredivisie|1965–66]], [[1966–67 Eredivisie|1966–67]], [[1967–68 Eredivisie|1967–68]], [[1969–70 Eredivisie|1969–70]]
*[[KNVB Cup]]: [[KNVB Cup|1966–67]], [[KNVB Cup|1969–70]], [[1970–71 KNVB Cup|1970–71]]
*[[UEFA Champions League|European Cup]]: [[1971 European Cup Final|1970–71]]; runner-up: [[European Cup 1968-69|1968–69]]

'''Barcelona'''<ref name="FIFA Profile 12" />
*[[La Liga]]: [[1973–74 La Liga|1973–74]]
*[[Copa del Rey]]: [[1977–78 Copa del Rey|1977–78]]
*[[Inter-Cities Fairs Cup#Trophy play-off match|Inter-Cities Fairs Cup Trophy]]: [[Inter-Cities Fairs Cup Trophy Play-Off|1971]]

'''1. FC Köln'''<ref name="FIFA Profile 12" />
*[[DFB Pokal]]: [[1982–83 DFB-Pokal|1982–83]]

'''Netherlands'''<ref name="FIFA Profile 12" />
*[[UEFA European Championship]]: [[UEFA Euro 1988|1988]]
*[[FIFA World Cup]] runner-up: [[1974 FIFA World Cup|1974]]
'''Individual'''
* [[World Soccer Awards|World Soccer Awards Manager of the Year]]: 1988<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.worldsoccer.com/features/world-soccer-awards-previous-winners-2 | title=World Soccer Awards – previous winners |publisher=World Soccer |date=14 December 2012 |access-date=18 March 2015}}</ref>
* [[FIFA|FIFA Coach of the Century]]: 1999<ref name="uefa" />
* [[France Football]] Greatest Manager of All time: 2019<ref name="Top6FF"/>
* [[World Soccer (magazine)#Greatest Managers of All Time|World Soccer 2nd Greatest Manager of All Time]]: 2013
* [[ESPN]] 2nd Greatest Manager of All Time: 2013
* [[FourFourTwo]] 2nd Greatest Manager of All Time: 2023<ref>{{cite web |title=Ranked! The 100 best football managers of all time |url=https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/ranked-the-100-best-football-managers-of-all-time/10 |access-date=27 May 2025|work=FourFourTwo}}</ref>
* Dutch Manager of the Century: 1999
* [[UEFA|UEFA Lifetime Award]]: 2002<ref>{{cite web |title=Michels and Houllier receive UEFA awards |url=http://www.uefa.org/football-development/technical/coach-education/news/newsid=17487.html |access-date=18 March 2015 |work=UEFA}}</ref>
* Best Manager in 50 years of professional football in the Netherlands: 2004
'''Orders'''
* Invested as a Knight of the [[Order of Orange-Nassau]]: 1974
* Elevated as an Officer of the [[Order of Orange-Nassau]]: 1988
* Named Knight of the [[Royal Dutch Football Association|KNVB]]: 2002

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Rinus Michels}}
{{wikiquote|Rinus Michels}}
* [http://www.thefa.com/TheFA/NewsFromTheFA/Postings/2005/03/Obituary_RinusMichels.htm Sven Goran Erikson's tribute to Rinus Michels] (3 March 2005)
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110716010209/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article2437525.ece The Times ranking of the 50 greatest post-war coaches]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20210116060932/https://www.francefootball.fr/news/Michels-ferguson-sacchi-cruyff-guardiola-les-50-meilleurs-entraineurs-de-l-histoire/999974 France Football ranking of the 50 greatest coaches in football history]
* {{wvo|804}}

{{Navboxes
|bg= #F1771D
|fg= white
|title= Netherlands squads
|list1=
{{Netherlands squad 1974 FIFA World Cup}}
{{Netherlands squad UEFA Euro 1988}}
{{Netherlands squad UEFA Euro 1992}}
}}
{{Navboxes
|title=Awards
|bg=gold
|fg=black
|list1=
{{UEFA European Championship winning managers}}
{{European Cup / Champions League winning managers}}
{{La Liga winning managers}}
{{Eredivisie winning managers}}
{{Copa del Rey winning managers}}
{{DFB-Pokal winning managers}}
}}
{{Navboxes
|title= Managerial positions
|list1=
{{AFC Ajax managers}}
{{FC Barcelona managers}}
{{Netherlands national football team managers}}
{{1. FC Köln managers}}
{{Bayer Leverkusen managers}}
}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Michels, Rinus}}
[[Category:1928 births]]
[[Category:2005 deaths]]
[[Category:Footballers from Amsterdam]]
[[Category:Dutch men's footballers]]
[[Category:Men's association football forwards]]
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[[Category:1. FC Köln managers]]
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[[Category:Knights of the Order of Orange-Nassau]]
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[[Category:Royal Netherlands Army personnel]]
[[Category:20th-century Dutch sportsmen]]