Phillip John-William Cocu (born 29 October 1970) is a Dutch professionalfootball manager and formermidfielder who was most recently the manager ofVitesse.
Cocu was born in Eindhoven but raised inZevenaar, playing youth football for local clubs DCS andDe Graafschap. After a year at AFC '34, he started his professional career atAZ. In 1990, Cocu moved toVitesse. A broken fibula disrupted his first season, but he became a first-team regular in the following four seasons. In 1995, he joined PSV, where he won theKNVB Cup and theEredivisie title in 1997. Cocu played forBarcelona between 1998 and 2004. There, he would become club captain, winLa Liga in 1999 and play twoChampions League semi-finals. He left the club in 2004 as club record holder for the most league appearances by a foreign player. During Cocu's second stint at PSV, he won another three Eredivisie titles and reached the Champions League semi-finals. After a year atAl Jazira, Cocu retired from professional football.
Cocu debuted for theNetherlands national team in 1996 and appeared at the1998 World Cup, scoring two goals but missing a penalty in the semi-finals againstBrazil. He also played at the2006 World Cup, as well as the1996,2000 and2004 European Championships. Cocu reached the semi-finals in the latter two tournaments and in 2004, he served as captain of the Dutch team. With 101 caps, Cocu is eighth on the list of most Dutch international appearances. During his career, he mainly played as adefensive "playmaker" inmidfield, but became equally known for his ability to be fielded as adefender,wing back,winger orforward.
After his retirement from playing professional football, Cocu joined PSV again as youth coach and later assistant manager. He also served as assistant at the Dutch team underBert van Marwijk between 2008 and 2012. Cocu wascaretaker manager at PSV in 2012, during which he won theKNVB Cup. In 2013, he was officially appointed as PSV manager, and won three league titles in his five years at the club.
Cocu was born inEindhoven, but he and his family moved toZevenaar when he was three years old after his father switched jobs.[3][4] He started playing youth football at the local amateur club DCS when he was six. Even though youth players normally were not allowed to play until they were seven, the team made an exception for Cocu. He played for DCS until he was picked up byDe Graafschap's youth academy.[4] After a short period, he moved to AFC '34 in 1986. A year later, his talent was again noticed by a professional club and in June 1987, Cocu joined theAZ youth ranks.[5][6]
Cocu began in the AZ reserve squad but was soon added to the first team.[7] He made his professional debut on 22 January 1989, when assistant coachHugo Hovenkamp (replacing the bedridden managerHans Eijkenbroek) brought him on in anEerste Divisie match againstNEC. The 18-year-old played as left winger at the time.[8][9] Cocu scored his first goal two weeks later in a cup match againstFortuna Sittard, followed up by his first league goal in March againstSVV. He would go on and score four goals in his first season.[9] In the1989-90 season, he appeared in nearly every league match.[10] After the competition ended, Cocu was sold to the newly promotedVitesse for €272,000.[8][11]
Cocu played only eight matches in his first Vitesse season after he suffered a broken fibula. He had a more productive second season, playing most matches and scoring three times. He netted his first Vitesse goal in August 1991 in a match againstADO Den Haag.[11] In Arnhem, Cocu changed from being a left winger to a central midfielder.[12] CoachHerbert Neumann envisioned a leading central role for Cocu in 1991 and placed him on the midfield position.[4][5] In 1992, Cocu played his first European match when Vitesse facedDerry City.[13] After Vitesse defeated Derry City, they beat Belgian sideMechelen in the following round. The away match was decided by a long-range effort from Cocu (1–0). Vitesse was eventually knocked out byReal Madrid. In the Eredivisie, the team finished in fourth place.[14] Cocu also played all league matches and doubled his goal tally in his third season.[11] In the1993–94 season, Cocu scored 11 Eredivisie goals, including three in a 5–0 victory overGo Ahead Eagles in December.[10][11] After the season,Louis van Gaal andAjax became interested in buying Cocu, but they could not meet the transfer fee demands.[4][5] A year later, PSV and Feyenoord triggered the release clause in Cocu's contract, making Vitesse unable to reject the offer.[15] He eventually chose to play for PSV.[4]
Cocu was signed in June 1995 in a joint-transfer withChris van der Weerden.[15] He immediately scored in his PSV debut againstFortuna Sittard (1–3).[16] In his first season, he won the KNVB Cup with PSV. In the final againstSparta Rotterdam (5–2), Cocu scored the first goal.[17] In October 1996, Cocu scored twice in a 7–2 win againstFeyenoord.[11] That season, Cocu and PSV would go on to win theJohan Cruyff Shield, beating Ajax 3–0, and the Eredivisie.[18][19] In the1997–98 season, Cocu won the Johan Cruyff Shield again after scoring twice in a 3–1 victory againstRoda JC.[20][21] In the Eredivisie, PSV finished second behind Ajax. The KNVB Cup final was also lost to Ajax (5–0).[22] After the season, Cocu decided not to extend his contract, demonstrating his intent to leave on a free transfer.[11]Atlético Madrid, Real Madrid,Juventus,Inter Milan andLazio were all keen on signing Cocu, but he ultimately chose to joinBarcelona, the club he supported as a child.[5]
In 2001, Pep Guardiola left Barcelona, making space for a new midfield consisting of Cocu,Xavi andGabri.[27][28] In the2001–02 season, Barcelona reached the Champions League semi-finals again, but were denied thefinal by Real Madrid.[24] In 2002, the returning coach Louis van Gaal chose Cocu as vice-captain behindLuis Enrique.[29] The2002–03 season was Barcelona's worst in years, however: the team finished sixth in La Liga, Van Gaal was fired early on and Cocu tore his knee ligament in a Champions League match against Inter Milan (0–0) in February. He was sidelined for two months.[30][31] Weeks earlier, Barcelona had already beat Inter 3–0, with a goal by Cocu.[24] With his contract expiring in 2003, he waited until after the FC Barcelona presidential elections to make a decision on extension.[32] Cocu, who intended to join PSV if the negotiations failed, eventually agreed on a one-year extension in June.[33]
The2003–04 season began with new coachFrank Rijkaard. Cocu scored Barcelona's first goal of the league season, deciding the match against Athletic Bilbao (1–0).[24] He played 36 league matches in total and also frequently served as the team captain. Barcelona finished second in La Liga.[34] In early 2004, Barça announced it would not renew Cocu's contract.[35] Both parties could not agree on a new deal after he did not accept Barcelona's significantly-lowered offer.[36] Cocu was disappointed by the club's decision, but was happy to return to PSV, whose offer always remained.[37] After his departure, he was awarded a plaque for his loyalty by club presidentJoan Laporta.[38] Cocu's 205 La Liga matches and 291 total appearances were Barcelona records for a foreign player when he left; both records remained untilLionel Messi surpassed them in 2011 and 2012 respectively.[39][40][41]
In 2004, Cocu signed a two-year contract with PSV.[35] He formed a midfield withJohann Vogel and captainMark van Bommel in a side that won theEredivisie, theKNVB Cup and reached theChampions League semi-finals in the 2004–05 season.[42][43] In the Champions League, Cocu scored the PSV away goal in the quarter-final match againstLyon (1–1).[44] PSV reached the semi-finals, but were ultimately eliminated byMilan. After losing the away leg 2–0, PSV went 2–0 ahead in the return game with a goal by Cocu. A goal by Milan'sMassimo Ambrosini, however, ended the hope to reach the finals, despite an injury-time second goal by Cocu.[45] In the domestic league, Cocu missed the title-winning match against Vitesse after a sending-off in the previous match. He was handed his second yellow card againstWillem II after being provoked byMartijn Reuser.[46]
When Mark van Bommel left PSV in 2005, Cocu was handed the role of captain by managerGuus Hiddink.[47] PSV won theleague title again and reached the second round of the Champions League, where they were eliminated by Lyon. Cocu was sent off in the return match.[48] For his league performances, Cocu won the Zilveren Schoen as the second-best Eredivisie player that year.[49] After the 2005–06 season, Cocu signed a one-year contract extension with PSV.[50] The team started the2006–07 season well, but the performances heavily declined in the second half of the season and the title was almost lost.[51] The championship was to be decided on the last league round, with PSV facing Vitesse. PSV won the match 5–1, with Cocu scoring the final goal. This goal eventually decided the title race: the goal difference between PSV and runners-up Ajax was one goal, just enough for the Eredivisie title win.[52]
Cocu was close to announcing his retirement after the 2006–07 season, but still received offers from Australia andAl Jazira Club.[53] After consulting Al Jazira'sAbe Knoop and László Jámbor (who worked for Ajax), he chose to sign a one-year deal with the club from theUnited Arab Emirates in August 2007.[4][54] In his first match, played againstAl Wasl, he immediately scored in the team's 2–1 victory.[55] With Al-Jazira, Cocu appeared in 17 league matches and scored four goals.[56] After the season ended, Cocu considered staying for another year, but ultimately chose to return to the Netherlands in time for the professional football coach course.[4] In July 2009, Cocu received a testimonial match from PSV at thePhilips Stadion. An all-star team consisting of Luís Figo,Edgar Davids, Frank de Boer and many other former players competed against the PSV first team.[57]
Cocu was close to his international debut in 1994. CoachDick Advocaat listed him on the 25-man provisional squad for the1994 World Cup due to his performances at Vitesse, but he eventually did not make the team. His international debut came at age 25 in early 1996 in an exhibition match againstGermany, handed to him byGuus Hiddink.[5] Cocu scored his first international goal against theRepublic of Ireland in June.[58] Cocu was called up forEuro 1996 by Hiddink. He appeared as a substitute in two group stage matches and was included in the first team for the quarter-final defeat againstFrance.[5][59][60] Two years later, the Dutch team qualified for the1998 World Cup, with Cocu having secured his place as a first-team member. He appeared in all World Cup matches, while scoring in the group stage matches againstSouth Korea andMexico.[58] In the semi-final againstBrazil, the match went to a penalty shoot-out. Cocu took the third Dutch penalty, but his attempt was saved byCláudio Taffarel. The Netherlands eventually lost the shoot-out (4–2) and missed out on the final.[61]
Cocu and the Netherlands were present atEuro 2000 after automatically qualifying as a host. The Dutch side, with Cocu in all fixtures, won all group matches and the quarter-final againstYugoslavia. Still, Cocu and the team were again eliminated after a penalty shoot-out in the semi-finals, this time againstItaly.[61] The Netherlands and Cocu failed to qualify for the2002 World Cup in a qualification group withPortugal and the Republic of Ireland. In 2003, Cocu received his first international sending-off in a friendly match againstBelgium.[62] The Netherlands did well in theEuro 2004 qualifiers, with Cocu scoring twice (both in separate matches againstAustria). DuringEuro 2004, Cocu was chosen as team captain and appeared in all matches.[58][63] In the quarter-finals againstSweden, he missed a penalty in the shoot-out, but the Netherlands still managed to win.[64] In the semi-finals, the team was eliminated by hosts Portugal.[58] After Euro 2004, Cocu lost the captain role to Edgar Davids, a decision made by new managerMarco van Basten.[65]
The Netherlands qualified for the2006 World Cup, with Cocu scoring three times in the qualifying matches. Cocu was a first-team member in most games, but a sending-off againstAndorra in September 2005[66] meant that Cocu missed the last two qualifiers.[58][67] At the World Cup, the Netherlands progressed from the group stage, butwere knocked out by Portugal in the second round, with Cocu coming close to equalizing by hitting the crossbar shortly after the start of the second half.[58] After the tournament, Cocu retired from international football.[68] With 101 caps for the Netherlands, Cocu is currently ranked fifth in the list of most Dutch international appearances.[69] He was granted a farewell and a golden plaque for his services before the match againstBelarus in September 2006.[70] In 2011, Cocu was namedbondsridder of theRoyal Dutch Football Association (KNVB), an honorary title for his service to Dutch football.[71]
A complete and versatile player, Cocu played as adefender,midfielder andforward, later noting that he never played as a full-back on the right or as a goalkeeper.
After Cocu's return from the UAE in 2008, he showed interest in becoming a football coach. He joined the professional football coach course to achieve the necessary coaching badges and returned to PSV to assist in several youth squads. Cocu was also immediately appointed second assistant ofBert van Marwijk, who became manager of the Netherlands national team.[72] Later, his role at PSV changed to assistingErnest Faber at the PSV under-19 squad and becoming a trainee for the PSV first team underHuub Stevens in late 2008.[73] After Stevens resigned in January 2009, Cocu became the assistant manager under caretaker managerDwight Lodeweges.[74] After the season finished, he continued to be part-time available for the first team.[75] In February 2010, he passed his coaching exam, enabling him to be a manager in the Netherlands.[76] A month later, Cocu agreed to remain assistant manager for the Dutch national team for another two years.[77] With the Netherlands, he was present at the2010 World Cup, where the team lost the final againstSpain.
In December 2010, Cocu was promoted to first assistant manager at the Dutch national team after Frank de Boer became manager of Ajax.[78] In the summer of 2011, Cocu signed a new two-year contract with PSV.[79] WhenFred Rutten was dismissed as PSV manager in March 2012, Cocu was appointed as caretaker manager for the remainder of the season. Faber joined PSV fromFC Eindhoven to serve as Cocu's assistant.[80] During his few months as manager, he promoted youngsterMemphis Depay to the first team and replacedAndreas Isaksson withPrzemysław Tytoń as the side's starting goalkeeper.[81][82] The results did not improve, however, and after a 2–1 home defeat againstRKC Waalwijk, Cocu vocally forfeited the title race.[83] Despite winning the last five games in a row, Cocu and PSV finished third in the league, therefore missing out on Champions League football.[84] Nonetheless, the team won theKNVB Cup by beatingHeracles Almelo 3–0 in the final.[85]
For the2012–13 season, the PSV board appointed Dick Advocaat as the new manager. Eager to gain more experience in coaching a team, Cocu took up the position of the PSV under-19 coach.[86] He also gave up his job as assistant manager at the Dutch national team afterEuro 2012, in which the Netherlands were eliminated in the first round.[87] During the season, it was decided that Cocu would succeed Advocaat in case he would announce his departure.[88] When Advocaat quit post-season, Cocu signed a four-year contract as manager of PSV. Joined by Faber andChris van der Weerden as his assistants, Cocu stressed his emphasis on developing players from the PSV youth ranks.[89] On 18 April 2015, Cocu won the Eredivisie title after a 4–1 win overHeerenveen. This was PSV's first league title since 2008, also ending a four-year domination of the league by Ajax.[90] Cocu's team successfully defended the league title one season later.[91]
On 22 June 2018, Cocu was appointed on a three-year deal at Turkey'sFenerbahçe, who were under new ownership.[92] He was dismissed on 28 October with the club just one point and one place above the relegation zone, following a 3–1 home loss toMKE Ankaragücü.[93]
On 5 July 2019, Cocu was announced as the new manager ofChampionship clubDerby County.[94][95] He guided Derby to a 10th-place finish, whilst installing a sense of total football locally known as Cocuball.[96] On 14 November 2020, Cocu and Derby parted company with the club at the bottom of the league table.[97]
Cocu returned to work after almost two years on 26 September 2022, being appointed at 14th-placed Vitesse, where he had left as a player in 1995. He replacedThomas Letsch, who had left forVfL Bochum.[98] He resigned on 11 November 2023 after a 1–3 home loss toSC Heerenveen, which saw the team at the bottom of the league with eight points after twelve matches.[99]