Mario Been, the Dutch footballer turned manager, is a man whose career spans decades of high-caliber football, both on the pitch and from the dugout. Renowned for his creative flair as a player and tactical intelligence as a coach, his story is one of resilience, adaptability, and an unyielding commitment to his craft. His path through the footballing world is not merely a tale of success but a testament to the ebbs and flows of the game itself, demonstrating the unpredictable nature of a football career.
PART ONE
Born on September 5, 1962, in Rotterdam, South Holland, Been’s love for football began early in his youth, nurtured by the vibrant football culture of the Netherlands. He was destined to follow in the footsteps of the greats, but his rise to prominence wasn’t always a straight line. Known for his superb dribbling, which earned him the affectionate nickname “Mariodona”—a play on his first name and Diego Maradona’s legendary footwork—Been’s journey is an inspirational blend of triumph and challenge, one that weaves through his playing days and into his managerial career.
Been’s career began with a debut for Feyenoord on September 5, 1982, in a 1–0 victory over N.E.C. Rotterdam. It was an auspicious start for the young attacking midfielder, who would go on to make over 100 appearances for Feyenoord between 1982 and 1988. His time at Feyenoord was marked by his technical ability and vision, where he earned the affection of the club’s fans, who admired his elegance on the ball and his precision in the final third. However, despite his individual brilliance, Feyenoord was not always able to secure silverware during this period, a factor that led to his eventual move abroad.
In July 1988, after six years with Feyenoord, Been made the brave decision to leave his boyhood club and take on a new challenge in Italy’s Serie A, joining Pisa. His move to Pisa would come during the club’s turbulent years in Italy’s top flight, but even as Pisa languished at the bottom, Been’s technical gifts shone through. His time in Italy, which spanned from 1988 to 1991, was a mixture of personal achievement and collective struggle. Playing against some of the world’s finest talents, Been honed his skills further, but Pisa’s relegation to Serie B in 1990 also marked the end of his Italian journey.
In 1991, the pull of home was too strong, and Been returned to the Netherlands, this time joining Roda JC, a club where he could continue to display his talents in a competitive environment. His time in Heerenveen followed soon after, a stint which was marked by his ability to create and assist from midfield, though it would be Austria’s Tirol Innsbruck where he would leave his most significant mark on his playing career. A brief but important period in the Austrian Bundesliga, followed by a return to Excelsior, saw Been play out his career with relative stability until his retirement in 1995, marking the end of a playing career that had spanned over a decade.
PART TWO
When one door closes, another opens, and for Mario Been, the door to management swung wide open after his retirement. Football had always been a part of his life, but now it was time for him to reshape the game from the sidelines. His initial foray into coaching came as an assistant manager at Feyenoord in 2000, where he worked under Bert van Marwijk. This position, though one of support, gave Been invaluable insight into the workings of a professional football team from a managerial perspective.
Yet, as van Marwijk moved to Borussia Dortmund in 2004, it was Been’s moment to step into the limelight. His opportunity arrived when he was appointed as the head coach of Excelsior in 2005, a club which was struggling in the Eerste Divisie, the second tier of Dutch football. Excelsior provided Been with his first true managerial test, and he passed with flying colors. He guided the club to promotion to the Eredivisie, finishing seven points clear of second-placed VVV Venlo, a monumental achievement for a team in such a precarious position. The style of football played under Been’s management was not only effective but also highly attractive, blending attacking flair with disciplined team organization.
This success did not go unnoticed, and in 2006, Been made the bold decision to take a step onto the international stage. He was appointed as the assistant manager to Leo Beenhakker at Trinidad and Tobago during the 2006 FIFA World Cup. While the World Cup campaign was memorable for the team’s spirited performances, it was NEC Nijmegen that would next call on Been’s services.
At NEC, a club eager to return to its glory years, Been inherited a squad in need of rejuvenation. His tactical nous was immediately apparent, as he led the team to a tenth-place finish in the Eredivisie during the 2006–07 season, far surpassing expectations. However, it was the following season, 2007–08, where Been truly made his mark. NEC, who had been languishing near the foot of the table halfway through the season, underwent a remarkable transformation. After a significant turn in fortunes, the team managed to finish in eighth place, securing a spot in the UEFA Cup Play-offs. It was a testament to Been’s managerial acumen that, in the final round of play-offs, NEC thrashed NAC Breda 6–0 at home, a scoreline that reflected the free-flowing attacking football his side played.
The following 2008–09 season would prove to be Been’s best in charge at NEC, as the club made a surprise run in the UEFA Cup. Labelled the “whipping boys” of their group, NEC defied the odds to beat Spartak Moscow 2–1 in Russia, with Lasse Schöne scoring the decisive goal. The crowning achievement of the campaign came when NEC defeated Udinese 2–0, sealing their place in the knockout stages of the competition. While they were eventually eliminated by Hamburger SV, the experience cemented Mario Been’s place in the club’s history.
On the back of his European success, Been returned to Feyenoord in 2009, the club where he had spent the early years of his playing career. There, he faced the challenging task of rebuilding a club that had fallen on hard times, both financially and in terms of performance. Despite inheriting a relatively youthful squad, Been led the team to a fourth-place finish in the Eredivisie, qualifying for the Europa League for the following season. This was a significant achievement, especially in light of the club’s financial restrictions and the departure of several key players.
However, 2010–11 proved to be a tumultuous season for Been at Feyenoord, marred by poor results and, most infamously, a 10–0 defeat to PSV Eindhoven, the heaviest loss in the club’s history. The defeat, coupled with inconsistent performances, ultimately led to his departure in July 2011, a bitter end to what had started as a promising reign.
Mario Been’s managerial journey did not end with Feyenoord. In August 2011, he was appointed as the head coach of Genk in Belgium, inheriting a squad filled with ambition. His time in Belgium was a mixed bag. Although he led Genk to the 2013 Belgian Cup, his stint was ultimately marred by underwhelming performances, particularly in European competitions, where the club failed to make an impact in the Champions League group stages. In 2014, he was dismissed by the club, marking another difficult chapter in his managerial career.
A few years later, 2017 saw Been take up the managerial reins at APOEL in Cyprus. However, his tenure was short-lived, as he was sacked after only three competitive matches, a rather abrupt and unceremonious end to his Cypriot adventure.