Gerald Vanenburg
A dazzling winger whose speed and technique were integral to the glorious, trophy-laden Ajax and Dutch national teams of the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Born 1964 (age 62)·Dutch footballer·Birthday: March 5·Baby Boomers
Biography
Gerald Vanenburg emerged from Ajax's famed youth academy as part of a golden generation. A right-winger of electric pace and skillful dribbling, he was a perfect fit for the club's total football philosophy. He broke into the first team as a teenager, quickly becoming a key component in a side that won the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1987. His club success was mirrored internationally; he was a regular in the Netherlands squad that captured the 1988 European Championship, a triumph that defined an era for Dutch football. After a decade at Ajax, he moved to clubs in France, Germany, and Japan, bringing his inventive style to new leagues. Post-retirement, he transitioned into coaching, taking his experience to roles across Europe and Asia.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Gerald was born in 1964, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Gerald Was Born
The biggest hits of 1964
#1 Movie
Mary Poppins
Best Picture
My Fair Lady
#1 TV Show
Bonanza
Gerald's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1964Born
Civil Rights Act signed; Beatles arrive in America
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $13,450Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"I Want to Hold Your Hand" — The BeatlesBest Picture: My Fair Lady
1969Started school
Apollo 11: humans walk on the Moon; Woodstock festival
Gas: $0.35/galHome: $15,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Sugar, Sugar" — The ArchiesBest Picture: Midnight Cowboy
1977Became a teenager
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1980Could drive
John Lennon shot and killed in New York
Gas: $1.19/galHome: $47,200Min wage: $3.10/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Call Me" — BlondieBest Picture: Ordinary People
1982Could vote
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1985Turned 21
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1994Turned 30
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2004Turned 40
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2014Turned 50
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2024Turned 60
AI reshapes industries; Paris Olympics
Gas: $3.31/galHome: $372,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Espresso" — Sabrina CarpenterBest Picture: Anora
2026Age 62 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the UEFA European Championship with the Netherlands in 1988, appearing in four matches during the tournament.
- Secured the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup with Ajax in 1987, scoring in the second leg of the final against Lokomotiv Leipzig.
- Claimed three Eredivisie titles and three KNVB Cups during his time with Ajax Amsterdam.
Did You Know?
He made his debut for the Netherlands national team at the age of 19 in 1982.
After his playing career, he served as an assistant coach to Guus Hiddink with the Russian national team.
His son, Gerald Vanenburg Jr., also became a professional footballer, playing as a midfielder.
“On the wing, you must always be ready to attack.”
