Arthur Numan (born 14 December 1969) is a Dutch former professionalfootballer. He played as aleft back and was a regular fixture inNetherlands national football team. He is currently the team manager for the Netherlands B squad and a scout forAZ Alkmaar.

Arthur Numan

Numan pictured in 2013
Personal information
Full name	Arthur Numan
Date of birth	(1969-12-14)14 December 1969 (age 55)
Place of birth	Heemskerk, Netherlands
Height	1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s)	Full back
Team information
Current team	Netherlands B: Manager Aston Villa FC: Scout
Youth career
	SV Beverwijk
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1987–1991	Haarlem	91	(5)
1991–1992	Twente	49	(7)
1992–1998	PSV Eindhoven	178	(25)
1998–2003	Rangers	118	(3)
Total		436	(40)
International career
1992–2002	Netherlands	45	(0)
Managerial career
2008–	Netherlands B (team manager)
Medal record Men'sfootball Representing Netherlands UEFA European Championship 2000 Belgium-Netherlands
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Born inHeemskerk,North Holland, Numan started his career with the amateur club SV Beverwijk and was spotted byHaarlem, who handed him his first professional game against DS '79 on 26 March 1988 which his team won 2–0. He originally played in a more attacking role, but his long-time mentorDick Advocaat, then the coach ofHaarlem, positioned him as a left fullback.

Numan joinedTwente at the close of the 1990–91 season where he scored goals even as a defender. He was named team captain for theEnschede team and also captained theDutch Under 21 national team. However, it was not until he joinedPSV Eindhoven that his talents were fully appreciated. He was drafted into the Dutch team for a World Cup qualifying game againstPoland which ended in a 2–2 draw on 14 October 1992. Numan was substituted after forty minutes by Advocaat, who was then the national team coach and brought on PSV teammateGerald Vanenburg as his team was 2–0 down early in the game.

A £4.5 million deal took him toRangers in May 1998, but Numan's time in Scotland was then blighted by injuries that forced him to sit out many games. Dick Advocaat, who managed the team at that time, waited for Numan to recover, a move which was rewarded when he helped the team to considerable league success as well as the treble in his first and final season at Rangers. Numan was awarded the teams vice-captaincy serving as deputy to captainLorenzo Amoruso. He had a particularly prolific relationship withGerman international left sided midfielderJorg Albertz. However, at the end of the 2002–03 season, he and the club could not agree a new contract so he left at the end of that season. He stated that he was willing to accept a pay-cut offer but felt that his club wanted too large a drop in wages. He soon announced his retirement. A late offer byVillarreal failed to change his mind and he refused to continue his career in Holland. He was not looking forward to start afresh training and playing hectic games every week.

Numan was included in the squad for the1994 World Cup in the United States, although he was never included in the starting line-up for any of the matches. His World Cup debut came againstIreland as a substitute in the 75th minute. He was also selected forEuro 1996, yet also failed to start a match at the tournament.

Numan was chosen to captain the team. He featured in most of the qualification games for the1998 World Cup. Numan played in all of the group matches in France, although the quarter final game againstArgentina was marred with his second yellow card of the game (after a tackle onDiego Simeone). He missed the crucial clash with eventual finalistBrazil. He played in the third placing match againstCroatia, but could not help his team win the bronze medal.

Numan continued to feature in the Dutch national team, representing his country on home soil during theEuro 2000 tournament. By 2000, Numan's career at the international stage appeared to wane and his automatic left back spot was open to his contendersWinston Bogarde andGiovanni van Bronckhorst. He was to play for the remaining games of his team's failed attempt to capture their first major trophy since 1988 culminating in the semi-final loss toItaly on penalties.

He was determined to assist his national team to qualify for the2002 World Cup in South Korea and Japan under managerLouis van Gaal but the crucial game against Ireland at Landsdowne Road stadium in late 2001 was lost 1–0. He retired from international football after his final international game againstUnited States on 19 May 2002, which the Dutch won 2–0 away.

Numan was a regular pundit onScotsport SPL, Scottish and Grampian TV's round-up ofScottish Premier League action and remained inHamilton for a few years after his retirement. He was also appointed treasurer of the Rangers Charity Trust.

He has taken up the position of team manager for the Netherlands B squad in December 2008.^[1]

Numan signed a one-year contract withAston Villa to become their scout in the Netherlands and surrounding areas in mid-2011.^[2]

Currently, he works as a scout forEredivisie sideAZ Alkmaar on a part-time basis.^[3]

PSV Eindhoven

• Eredivisie: 1997
• KNVB Cup: 1996
• Johan Cruijff Shield (4): 1992, 1996, 1997, 1998

Rangers

• Scottish Premier League (3): 1999, 2000, 2003
• Scottish Cup (4): 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003
• Scottish League Cup (3): 1999, 2002, 2003

• Arthur Numan at Soccerbase 
• Arthur Numan at Wereld van Oranje (archived)(in Dutch)