Robert Molenaar

Robert Molenaar
Molenaar in 2016
Personal information
Date of birth (1969-02-27) 27 February 1969 (age 55)
Place of birth Zaandam, Netherlands
Height 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)[1]
Position(s) Centre-back
Team information
Current team
 Schalke 04 (assistant coach)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1992–1997 FC Volendam 125 (2)
1997–2000 Leeds United 51 (5)
2000–2003 Bradford City 71 (2)
2003–2007 RBC Roosendaal 68 (6)
Total 315 (15)
Managerial career
2012–2013 NEC (assistant)
2014–2015 RKSV Halsteren
2015–2017 FC Volendam
2017–2019 Roda JC Kerkrade
2019 Almere City
2021–2022 Jong NAC
2022 NAC Breda
2024– Schalke 04 (assistant)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Robert Molenaar (born 27 February 1969) is a Dutch professional football coach and former player who works as an assistant coach at Schalke 04. He played as a centre-back for FC Volendam, Leeds United, Bradford City and RBC Roosendaal.

Playing career

Molenaar was born in Zaandam, North Holland. He was signed for Leeds United by the then manager George Graham from FC Volendam for £1,000,000 in January 1997 to try to shore up the defence.[2] He became a regular in the side until the end of the 1996–97 season. In the 1997–98 season however his performances were not up to scratch and he fell down the pecking order playing around half the matches. In the 1998–99 he was once again a first choice centre-back, above David Wetherall but a challenge by Nicolas Anelka, then playing for Arsenal, kept him out via ligament damage until 2000. He failed to make another appearance for Leeds United and was sold to Bradford City in the summer of 2000 to help their dog fight against relegation. He stayed there until 2003, scoring twice against Newcastle United[3] and Nottingham Forest,[4] when his contract was not renewed and he moved to RBC Roosendaal before eventually retiring in the summer of 2007.

Managerial career

After working as assistant manager of NEC and manager of amateur side RKSV Halsteren,[5] Molenaar was appointed manager of Eerste Divisie side FC Volendam from July 2015.[6] In March 2017, it was announced that Molenaar would leave his role at the end of the season.[7]

He was appointed as manager of Roda JC in June 2017 on a one-year contract with the option of a further year.[5] He was sacked from his role at the club in March 2019.[8]

In June 2019, he was appointed as manager of Almere City on a two-year contract,[9] but was sacked in November of that year following a run of poor results.[10]

On 13 July 2021, Molenaar was appointed as manager of Jong NAC, the reserve team of NAC Breda.[11][12]

On 15 June 2022, NAC appointed Molenaar as head coach of the first team on a one-year deal, effective from 1 July 2022, replacing Edwin de Graaf.[13] He was dismissed on 27 December 2022 due to poor results.[14]

In October 2024, Molenaar joined Kees van Wonderen at Schalke 04. He started working there as Van Wonderen's assistant.[15]

References

  1. ^ Rollin, Glenda; Rollin, Jack (1999). Rothmans Football Yearbook 1999–2000. London: Headline Book Publishing. p. 469. ISBN 0-7472-7627-7.
  2. ^ Metcalf, Rupert (10 January 1997). "Football: Graham goes Dutch to stiffen defence". The Independent. Retrieved 8 November 2020.
  3. ^ "Magpies class outwits Bradford". BBC. 16 December 2000. Retrieved 10 March 2010.
  4. ^ "Bradford 1-0 Nottm F". BBC. 14 December 2002. Retrieved 10 March 2010.
  5. ^ a b "Robert Molenaar nieuwe trainer van Roda JC". Algemeen Dagblad (in Dutch). 21 June 2017. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  6. ^ "Robert Molenaar wordt trainer Volendam". nos.nl (in Dutch). Nederlandse Omroep Stichting. 2 March 2015. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  7. ^ "Molenaar houdt het na dit seizoen voor gezien bij FC Volendam". Algemeen Dagblad (in Dutch). 22 March 2017. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  8. ^ "Roda JC ontslaat trainer Robert Molenaar". nos.nl (in Dutch). Nederlandse Omroep Stichting. 19 March 2019. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  9. ^ Kas, Dennis (18 June 2019). "Roosendaler Robert Molenaar nieuwe trainer Almere City FC". BN DeStem (in Dutch). Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  10. ^ Kas, Dennis (26 November 2019). "Almere City ontslaat Robert Molenaar". BN DeStem (in Dutch). Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  11. ^ Walraven, Richard (13 July 2021). "'In november zou ik twee jaar niet in dienst zijn geweest. Dat werd een beetje vervelend'; Robert Molenaar trainer bij Jong NAC". Noordhollands Dagblad (in Flemish).
  12. ^ "'The Terminator' Robert Molenaar nieuwe trainer van Jong NAC". Voetbal in Zaanstad (in Dutch). 13 July 2021.
  13. ^ "Molenaar nieuwe hoofdtrainer NAC. Molhoek blijft aan en Lokhoff komt terug thuis". NAC (in Dutch). 15 June 2022. Archived from the original on 15 June 2022. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
  14. ^ "NAC Breda zet trainer Robert Molenaar op straat vanwege slechte resultaten". Algemeen Dagblad (in Dutch). 27 December 2022. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
  15. ^ Lex Lammers (6 October 2024). "Na dochters in koffiekraam komt ook Schalke 04 met bevestiging: Kees van Wonderen nieuwe trainer". Algemeen Dagblad (in Dutch). DPG Media. Retrieved 6 October 2024.