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 Shirt number: 15
Nationality: Dutch
Position: Left defender/midfielder/winger
Birth Date: 29.10.1970
Birth
Place: Eindhoven [Netherlands]
Height: 1.82m
Weight: 74kg
Transfered from: PSV Eindhoven
Transfered to: PSV Eindhoven
Phillip
Cocu is the epitome of versatility - capable of operating as a central or left-sided midfield player, at full-back, or even
as a second striker. In addition, he packs a powerful shot with his left foot, and is also excellent at closing down opponents.
National team
Cocu has rarely missed an international date for the Netherlands since making his debut against
Germany in April 1996, a 1-0 loss. He subsequently played four times at EURO'96™, all seven Oranje games at the 1998
FIFA World Cup, and was a regular at UEFA EURO 2000™. Helped the Dutch to qualify for EURO 2004™ and played every
minute of the Netherlands' run to the semi-finals. Unlike other experienced compatriots, opted to keep going at international
level and scored in the 2006 World Cup qualifiers against Romania and Finland - the latter his tenth goal on his 90th cap.
Club
Cocu started his career in the Dutch second division with AZ Alkmaar before developing into one of his
country's best young players under the guidance of coach Herbert Neumann during five years at SBV Vitesse.
1995: Opted
for a move to PSV Eindhoven, where he won the title and Dutch Cup and scored 31 goals in 93 Eredivisie matches over three
seasons.
1998: Signed by FC Barcelona on the back of a good World Cup, Cocu marked his first campaign with a league championship
winner's medal. In June 2003 he agreed a new one-year contract to extend his stay with the Camp Nou club and played all but
two of Barça's league games as they ended the season on a high with a second-placed finish. After failing to agree on a new
contract, however, he returned to PSV on a two-year deal in June.
2004/05: Inspirational back in Eindhoven, he helped
PSV to the domestic double, scoring in the Dutch Cup final 4-0 win against Willem II. Also vital in 13 UEFA Champions League
matches, scoring against Olympique Lyonnais in the quarter-finals and twice at home to AC Milan in the next round, but that
proved not enough to prevent his team's exit.
Although he was born in Eindhoven, he supported AFC Ajax and Manchester
United FC as a boy.
** Courtesy of UEFA.COM
 
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