Mark van Bommel Biography

Mark van Bommel was born on April 22, 1977, in Maasbracht, Netherlands. If we want to talk about one of the best midfielders in Dutch football history, one of the best options available would be Mark van Bommel. Bayern Munich,

, Barcelona, and AC Milan. These are some of Europe’s most decorated clubs in history, all of whom have had Mark van Bommel on their roster at one time or another. However, it was at Fortuna Sittard where van Bommel’s professional story began.

Mark van Bommel rose in the 2004/05 season to one of the most colorful players in European football and became one of the best and most sought-after midfielders in Europe. The central midfielder showed excellent performances at PSV Eindhoven and the national team and received a contract with the Spanish champions FC Barcelona for the 2005/06 season. In the Catalans' "world selection," however, the Dutchman did not get beyond the role of the noble reservist. After winning the Champions League in 2006, van Bommel moved to Bayern Munich.

He advanced to an undisputed regular player with his aggressive style of play and leadership qualities and led the club to a double in 2008. In 2010 van Bommel, even Bayern captain won the double again and reached the Champions League final. However, he lost this and the 2010 World Cup final with the Oranje team at the World Cup in South Africa. But whatever it is, the name of Mark van Bommel has always stood on Dutch football.

"The Destroyer" is the nickname the football fans were used to call Mark. Mark van Bommel has played for Fortuna Sittard, PSV, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and Milan.

Mark van Bommel nationality

is Dutch, and he is known as one of the most fan's favorite players in Dutch football history. Mark van Bommel was a defensive midfielder and, no one can deny that he is one of the legends of PSV and Milan. Sure it is not all about Van Bommel's life story as there is so much to say. Stay tuned as we take a look at Mark van Bommel biography.

All You Need to Know About Mark van Bommel Biography

Mark van Bommel was born on April 22, 1977, in Maasbracht, Netherlands, and is now 44. Van Bommel's career began in 1995 with the Dutch 2nd division team Fortuna Sittard. Through his promotion with the team from the 2nd to the 1st division, Mark developed into a midfield size in Holland, and in 1999 moved to PSV Eindhoven.

Van Bommel spent six years in Eindhoven and won four titles, which in 2005 meant that teams like FC Barcelona, ​​Real Madrid, and Borussia Dortmund noticed him. In 2005 Mark Peter Gertruda Andreas van Bommel moved to FC Barcelona and became known as the Dutch sniper, which came from his shots from the second row. In 2006 he moved to FC Bayern Munich for a transfer fee of €6m.

Due to his good performance and the maturity he demonstrated in the game, he was elected to succeed

as captain in 2008 and became the first foreign captain at Bayern. In 2011, van Bommel was pushed from his regular seat and moved to AC Milan. 

Mark Peter Gertruda Andreas van Bommel was unfortunately only known as a fixture in the world at his clubs. Still, in the national team of the Netherlands, he was only used during the qualification for the 2006 World Cup in Germany, which was also his first major tournament.

He made his debut for the national team on October 7, 2000, in a 4-0 victory over Cyprus. After the World Cup, van Bommel was no longer considered for the two qualifying games for the 2008 European Championship against Luxembourg and Belarus. He declined the appeal for the game against Bulgaria with the words "no longer wanting to play for the Netherlands under Marco van Basten."

After the European Championship in 2008, Bert van Marwijk became the new bond coach, whereupon van Bommel expressed his interest in playing for the national team again. His interest in coming back was taken into account by Bert van Marwijk, and he was called upon August 15, 2008, for a friendly against Russia. He then played for the Elftal in seven of the eight qualifying games for the 2010 World Cup and scored one goal each in the away games in Norway and Iceland.

Mark van Bommel Information

In this part of Mark van Bommel biography, you could find some general information about Mark van Bommel listed down here.

Mark van Bommel Bio

• Full Name: Mark van Bommel

• Nickname: “The Destroyer”

• Profession: Former Professional Football Player | Head coach of VfL Wolfsburg

Mark van Bommel Physical Stats

• Weight: 85 Kilograms

• Height: 1.87 Meters

• Eye Color: Dark Brown

• Hair Color: Dark Brown

Mark van Bommel Football Information

• Position: Midfielder

• Jersey Number: 6

• Professional Debut: 1974

Mark van Bommel Date of Birth and Personal Info

• Date of Birth: 22 April 1977

• Birth Place: Maasbracht, Netherlands

• Zodiac Sign: Taurus

• Nationality: Dutch

Mark van Bommel Early Life

Mark van Bommel childhood

was all about football. Mark van Bommel, nicknamed "The Destroyer," was born on April 22, 1977, in Maasbracht. Mark van Bommel joined amateur side RKVV Maasbracht for the 1992/93 season. By the end of the 1994/95 season, van Bommel had established himself as a starter, making no less than 31 appearances, earning the Sittard side promotion back to the Netherland’s top division.

PSV was able to obtain the services of van Bommel for a value of €2.7m ahead of the 1999/2000 season, and it was here where his rise to stardom was truly set in motion, and Europe really started to sit up and take notice. Mark’s second season at Eindhoven saw the Eredivisie title successfully defended in a similarly devastating fashion. During his second season, at the young age of 23, van Bommel inherited the captain’s armband, demonstrating that the development of his maturity and leadership qualities.

During his six years in Eindhoven, playing alongside Park Ji-Sung,

, and Philip Cocu, at various points, and under the guidance of Guus Hiddink, van Bommel collected, in total, four Eredivisie titles and one KNVB Cup. At this point, van Bommel had firmly established himself on the footballing stage, making a reputation for himself as a commanding presence in the midfield, a role performed so deftly earning him the Dutch Footballer Year award twice (in 2001 and 2005).

Mark van Bommel life story

is filled with memories of joyful moments, which probably makes him one of the best personalities in Dutch football history.

Mark van Bommel Profile

In this section of 

Mark van Bommel biography

, we will take a look at his professional career from his early days until now. Mark's superlative performances in the Eredivisie and some impressive performances in the Champions League and UEFA Cup had attracted the interest of teams from across the continent, such as Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund. Eventually, van Bommel opted to sign for FC Barcelona – one of the many teams supported by Mark at a young age, on a free transfer.

With Dutch legend Frank Rijkaard at the helm, van Bommel was a regular on the first team, making 24 appearances in the league in Barcelona’s victorious La Liga campaign. After just one season at the Catalan club, Bayern Munich acquired van Bommel’s services for a fee of €6m. Reflecting on the move later in life, van Bommel told reporters that the decision to leave Barcelona was due to his concerns that he would get limited playing time due to the emergence of Lionel Messi and the arrival of Gianluca Zambrotta from Juventus.

Bayern had, at the time, needed a replacement for

that had left to join English-side Chelsea on a free transfer. Van Bommel was thus able to fit seamlessly into the team. Like several other Dutch players at the time, van Bommel had refused to participate in the national team, as long as head coach Marco van Basten was at the helm. 

This resulted in Mark skipping the UEFA Euro 2008 in Switzerland and Austria. However, following former manager and father-in-law Bert van Marwijk, van Bommel returned to the Oranje and took part in the Netherlands’ 2010 FIFA World Cup campaign.

Though a fan favorite, Mark only stayed at Bayern until the end of 2010, citing van Gaal’s preference to play others instead of the captain as the reason for his departure. Consequently, van Bommel and Bayern terminated the Dutchman’s contract by mutual consent and joined Mark's club over the years – the Italian side, AC Milan.

In many ways, van Bommel’s move to Italy made a lot of sense, and some wondered what took so long for Mark to join the league known renowned for the tactical foul. At 33, there were doubts about how much van Bommel could contribute to a Milan side sitting at the top of the table. “When I arrived here, everyone told me this club is like a family, and it’s true, it is.” “At Milan, I was able to apply myself, I think, in terms of football but also as a human being, and I had a great time.” Stay tuned to read more about Mark van Bommel biography and get to know him better.

Style of Play

Regarding Mark van Bommel’s style of play, he used to play as a midfielder. One of his generation's most talented defensive players, van Bommel was often admired as a highly aggressive Midfielder. During his time in Eindhoven, Mark mastered the art of the tactical foul, often breaking up play before key passes were made and having a knack for provoking the opposition into committing fouls.

This had earned van Bommel the reputation as an overly-hard tackler, accused of stretching the rules to their limits. Nevertheless, Mark was a proven ball-winner, often freeing other players from their defensive duties and allowing more attack-minded players more room to create goal-scoring opportunities. It is no coincidence he was called 'The destroyer.'

It is also untrue that Van Bommel was a player bereft of any technical skill. Whilst utilized for most of his career as a holding midfielder, he possessed a passing range that was up there with the very best.

Reception

Mark van Bommel is 44 and has retired from football. One of the most industrious and polarising players of recent years, Mark van Bommel’s playing career was marked with success wherever he went. His dedication to winning the ball won the admiration of many and was inspiring to many of his peers that often saw him as a role model for the rest of the team.

When asked about van Bommel’s departure from Munich to Milan, compatriot, long-time teammate, and close friend, Arjen Robben reflected: “He has been a significant player for us with special qualities. Not just in football, also as a human.” The man from Maasbracht will surely go down in history as another one of the Netherland’s finest footballing sons. Still, many refer to Mark van Bommel as one of the greatest legends in Dutch football history.

Goal Celebration

Mark van Bommel's goal celebration was not very special, but he really used to do it with a certain energy. He would raise both his hands in celebration before hugging his teammates; this was the way Mark van Bommel celebration looked like. He used to do it over and over.

Mark van Bommel Outside Football

Mark van Bommel outside football is a very respected person and has a story like everyone else. His charisma and leadership were well respected throughout his life in Germany and Italy. In his two-and-half years with the armband, Van Bommel, however, became Bayern’s first foreign captain to lift silverware, securing another Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal double in 2009/10.

To most, Mark van Bommel’s name will forever be synonymous with little more than an uncompromising player who it would be best to forget – but this is not how he is viewed at PSV. Eindhoven is one of the club’s best players this century, a midfield colossus who led by example. Looking at his honors list and longevity means perhaps some of the wider footballing community should reconsider that he was ultimately an outstanding footballer for all the gamesmanship and hard tackles. Stay tuned to read more about 

Mark van Bommel biography

 and get to know him better.

Mark van Bommel Personal Life

Van Bommel and Van Marwijk, it's a story that lasts. And for a good reason. The former PSV and

midfielder have married the daughter of the current Australian coach. Andra van Bommel is the wife of Mark van Bommel. The current PSV trainer is now 44 years old.

He met his girlfriend when he played for Fortuna Sittard as a twenty-year-old young man. Andra is the daughter of then trainer Bert van Marwijk and that was not always easy for Mark van Bommel. We should also note that

Mark van Bommel religion

is Christianity.

Family, Children and Relationships

Andra van Bommel is the wife of Mark van Bommel. The two met when Mark was twenty years old. It was not always easy for Mark to go out with his trainer's daughter. “Of course, it was quite strange to go out with the coach's daughter. I remember when I went to pick her up at home. I rang the bell and was really shaking on my legs," he once stated years ago in a conversation with De Mol kicks off.

“After that, I went to the cinema with Andra. I believe in The Truman Show. Then we ate at McDonald's," said Mark about his extremely romantic first date. The two eventually became a set, and even today, Andra is still by Mark's side. The two are the proud parents of three children: sons Ruben and Thomas and daughter Renee.

Philanthropy

Mark van Bommel has done charity work with United charity. United Charity is the largest charity auction portal in Europe, with up to 300 ongoing auctions per day and total donations of over €10.7m. The non-profit organization is auctioning off unique things and experiences on its internet platform that are generally unavailable for purchase.

With the proceeds from online auctions and donations, 100 percent of which are passed on, United Charity supports children's aid projects throughout the Netherlands and internationally. On December 1st, 2009, United Charity was founded by Dagmar and Karl Heinz Kogel and now has partnerships with more than 200 renowned aid organizations.

United Charity wants a world in which children, as the weakest group in society, no longer have to suffer hardship. For this idea to become a reality at some point, however, it requires courageous and determined action on the part of politics, business, and society. Only when the necessary decisions are made can we all hope for a world where every child can look Midfielder to their lives with confidence and self-confidence. Keep reading to know more about Mark van Bommel biography and see if he has had any legal issues so far or not.

Legal Issues

To say that Van Bommel drags one of the worst reputations in the world of football is also an understatement, as his CV is filled with incidents of play, cards of all colors, and gestures more or less regrettable: a nudge that gives Messi KO, a hand in the private parts of Fernando Meira or an arm of honor under the eyes of the referee but despite all of these memories, we cannot say he had any legal issues in his life.

As he once stated, all his action on the pitch is part of the team plan. "Yes, I do the dirty work. So what? A football team cannot be made up of eleven dancers." After giving specific information about Mark van Bommel's legal issues, we go to the next part, the Mark van Bommel career statistics part.

Mark van Bommel Career Statistics

Mark van Bommel statistics are just fantastic. Mark van Bommel, better known as "The Destroyer," helped PSV win back-to-back league titles and even served as a captain in his second campaign at 23. Playing alongside the likes of Arjen Robben and Philip Cocu, the Maasbracht native added another two Eredivisie crowns to his collection and the Dutch Cup. He also enjoyed a run to the 2003/04 UEFA Champions League semi-finals, where PSV lost out to future employers

on away goals.

On 29 April 2012, Van Bommel announced that he would return to PSV, who confirmed the signing on 14 May. After a disappointing season in which PSV finished second in the Eredivisie and lost the KNVB Cup final to AZ, Van Bommel announced his retirement from professional football on 12 May 2013. In an interview after his last professional game, Van Bommel expressed an interest in a coaching career. He cited his desire to make way for younger players to shine and rest his body, specifically his injured left knee.

Club

Mark van Bommel started his amateur career at the local club RKVV Maasbracht before earning a professional contract with Fortuna Sittard in 1992. His other colleagues at Fortuna who would later join PSV alongside him were Wilfred Bouma and Kevin Hofland.

PSV signed Van Bommel in 1999, where he formed a midfield partnership with Swiss international Johann Vogel. He won three Eredivisie titles and two Johan Cruijff Shield with the club. He was also named Dutch Footballer of the Year in 2001 and 2005.

signed Van Bommel on a free transfer for Barcelona to strengthen his already title-winning squad. Soon after joining the German side, Van Bommel proved to be a key player, providing strength in the middle of the pitch. Due to his terrific performances during his first season at Bayern, he has been voted the Bayern Player of the Year for the 2006–07 season, beating out longtime fan-favorites Roy Makaay and Mehmet Scholl. After Oliver Kahn retired in 2008, Van Bommel was selected as captain.

He was the first non-German captain of Bayern Munich. Van Bommel signed a six-month contract with Italian club Milan on a free transfer after terminating his contract with Bayern Munich. Then he continued to be a starter and occupied the defensive midfielder position throughout the season. He decided not to stay with Milan for another season, despite being offered a new contract. Maybe van Bommel realized his time in club football is on the verge of ending at that moment.

International

Mark van Bommel has a 12-year history for the Dutch national team. Van Bommel's debut for the Netherlands was a 4–0 on 7 October 2000 against Cyprus. However, he did not appear in a major tournament until 2006, with the Netherlands failing to qualify for the 2002 FIFA World Cup and injury preventing him from playing during UEFA Euro 2004 in

.

Van Marwijk selected Van Bommel to succeed Giovanni van Bronckhorst as the new captain of the Netherlands. Despite initial claims, he did not want to be the new captain, absent from the national team for two years. He captained the side for the first time in a 5–0 away win against San Marino. Against San Marino, Van Bommel captained the Netherlands to a record-breaking 11–0 victory in Eindhoven on 2 September 2011.

Following the Netherlands' elimination from the Euro 2012, Van Bommel retired from international football. Stay tuned to read more about

Mark van Bommel biography

and find out what awards and titles he has won.

Managerial

Van Bommel started his coaching career as an assistant manager in January 2014, joining the Netherlands U-17 national team under Maarten Stekelenburg. On 1 September 2015, he joined his father-in-law Bert van Marwijk at the Saudi Arabia national team, serving as an assistant there for two years. On 25 April 2017, he was appointed head coach of the PSV youth team. On 23 March 2018, he reunited with van Marwijk at the Australia national team, assisting him at the 2018 FIFA World Cup. 

Then the 44-year-old joins 'Die Wölfe' on a two-year deal, succeeding Oliver Glasner, who recently left to join Eintracht Frankfurt. Van Bommel, who played for Bayern München during his active career, commented:

"I am very much looking forward to working at

and am excited about my new environment, the people, and the task that awaits me. The ideas and perceptions of those responsible are identical to mine, and I can identify very well with the path the club has taken. "To be allowed to work as a coach in the Bundesliga, where I played for so long, is a great honor and challenge for me, which I will approach with great joy and commitment together with everyone involved."Stay tuned to read more about Mark van Bommel biography and find out what awards and titles he has won.

Mark van Bommel Honors

He played in four different nations (The Netherlands, Spain, Germany, and Italy); during his stay in Germany for Bayern Munich, he made club history, becoming the first team captain, not from Germany. Van Bommel won the 2005-06 UEFA Champions League with Barcelona and was part of the Netherlands team that finished the 2010 FIFA World Cup runner-up.

His FIFA World Cup profile describes him as "a tackling machine and expert ball-winner, but he also boasts a fine array of passes and a powerful shot, having been a free-kick specialist during his PSV days." When he played for Bayern Munich, he was the club's first non-German captain. During this period, he led the team to two Bundesliga titles and finished runner-up in the 2010 UEFA Champions League Final.

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