Rob Rensenbrink remembered for skill and missed chances
Rob Rensenbrink passed away on 24 January 2020 but remains immortalised in Dutch football history for his elegance on the pitch and near-misses in major finals. The former Anderlecht and Netherlands winger featured in 46 international matches between 1970 and 1979, earning acclaim for his dribbling, vision, and calm finishing.
Oud-ploeggenoot Arie Haan argues that Rensenbrink’s legacy is reduced by the iconic image of his shot hitting the post in the 1978 World Cup final. Haan insists that a fully fit Rensenbrink would have delivered a different outcome in 1974.
“With a fit Robbie in the starting line-up we would have won the World Cup in 1974,” Haan stated. His remarks underline the impact Rensenbrink could have had when his club Brugge teammate was sidelined by a thigh injury.
Pieter Robert Rensenbrink began his career at DWS before moving to Club Brugge, Anderlecht, Portland Timbers, and Toulouse. Across more than two decades he was renowned for controlling the ball with his left foot, gliding past defenders and providing assists or finishing moves with equal precision.
The documentary ‘Andere Tijden Sport: Voor Cody Gakpo: het slangenmens’ aired on NPO 1 on Sunday 2 November 2025 at 22:15, revisiting Rensenbrink’s style and influence. Cody Gakpo, who scored twice from the penalty spot against Malta in October 2025, admitted ignorance of Rensenbrink’s feat in 1978 when he replicated the same achievement.
Contemporaries drew direct comparisons. Jan Mulder likened Rensenbrink to both Lamine Yamal and Johan Cruijff, praising his technical grace and decision-making. Arie Haan compared him to George Best in his prime, highlighting his athleticism and aesthetic play.
Ruud Krol labelled him “a world-class player” while Haan added that Rensenbrink often decided matches single-handedly. Mulder described him as “a gentle artist,” capturing both his skill and temperament off the field.
Hungarian coach Lajos Baróti coined the nickname ‘slangenmens’ in spring 1970 after Rensenbrink scored three goals for Club Brugge against Újpest Dózsa. Baróti declared after the match, “It was like watching a contortionist.” The moniker reflected his ability to twist and glide past opponents.
Rensenbrink felt overshadowed in the Netherlands squad by Cruijff, despite sharing a similar appearance. He later reflected, “I felt I was not used enough in the national team. It wasn’t intentional, but it happened. Cruijff naturally got more touches, but it came at my expense.”
He rarely expressed frustration publicly. Raised in a strict environment, he was sent to a health colony as a child and instructed not to cry. He internalised his emotions for life, including the disappointment of missing the 1974 World Cup final through injury.