Theo de Jong
A stylish Dutch midfielder whose vision and technical grace made him a key architect of FC Bruges' historic run to the 1978 European Cup Final.
Born 1947 (age 79)·Dutch footballer·Birthday: August 11·Baby Boomers
Biography
Theo de Jong's football was one of quiet orchestration rather than thunderous spectacle. The midfielder, with his distinctive mustache and elegant left foot, carved out a significant career in the Netherlands and Belgium during the 1970s. While he earned caps for the Dutch national team in an era of fierce competition, his most lasting legacy was built at Club Brugge, where his creativity was instrumental in one of the club's golden ages. Under Ernst Happel, de Jong helped guide the team to multiple Belgian league titles and, most famously, to the 1978 European Cup Final, where they narrowly lost to Liverpool. After his playing days, he transitioned into coaching, applying his thoughtful understanding of the game to mentor future generations, though he never sought the brightest spotlight, content with the respect of those who understood the art of midfield play.
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.
Theo was born in 1947, 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 Theo Was Born
The biggest hits of 1947
#1 Movie
The Egg and I
Best Picture
Gentleman's Agreement
Theo's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1947Born
India gains independence; the Dead Sea Scrolls found
Gas: $0.23/galHome: $6,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Near You" — Francis CraigBest Picture: Gentleman's Agreement
1952Started school
Queen Elizabeth II ascends the throne
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,350Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Blue Tango" — Leroy AndersonBest Picture: The Greatest Show on Earth
1960Became a teenager
Kennedy-Nixon debates become first televised presidential debates
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,900Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Theme from A Summer Place" — Percy FaithBest Picture: The Apartment
1963Could drive
JFK assassinated in Dallas; Martin Luther King's 'I Have a Dream' speech
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,100Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Sugar Shack" — Jimmy Gilmer & The FireballsBest Picture: Tom Jones
1965Could vote
US sends combat troops to Vietnam
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,600Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" — The Rolling StonesBest Picture: The Sound of Music
1968Turned 21
Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy assassinated
Gas: $0.34/galHome: $14,950Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Hey Jude" — The BeatlesBest Picture: Oliver!
1977Turned 30
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
1987Turned 40
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1997Turned 50
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2007Turned 60
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2017Turned 70
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Age 79 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Played a central role in Club Brugge's journey to the 1978 European Cup Final.
- Won three Belgian First Division titles with Club Brugge (1976, 1977, 1978).
- Earned 15 caps for the Netherlands national football team between 1972 and 1974.
- Later served as a coach for several clubs, including RKC Waalwijk and the Saudi Arabian national team as an assistant.
Did You Know?
His younger brother, Pieter de Jong, was also a professional footballer.
He scored a memorable long-range goal against Atlético Madrid in the 1978 European Cup semi-final.
After retiring, he worked as a football analyst for Dutch television.
He was known for his exceptional ball control and was rarely booked, emphasizing technical over physical play.
“A good pass is a thought delivered at the right speed.”
