Willem Janssen was a versatile, combative and tactically intelligent Dutch midfielder who built a long and respected career in the Eredivisie, with notable spells at VVV-Venlo, Roda JC, FC Twente and especially FC Utrecht, where he ended his playing career and became a symbol of leadership. He began his career at VVV-Venlo as a central midfielder, showing early on his marking ability, good reading of the game and getting forward, and soon caught the attention of bigger clubs in the league.

At Roda JC, he established himself as a regular starter, being one of the team's main names and drawing attention for his versatility — he played as a defensive midfielder, central midfielder, attacking midfielder and even as a defender at times, always with a competitive spirit and tactical awareness. His development led him to FC Twente, a club where he arrived in 2011, at a time of reconstruction after the team's peak at the beginning of the decade. At Twente, although he was not a star, he was an important player in the squad, playing regularly both in midfield and sometimes improvised in attack, valued by coaches for his consistency, quiet leadership and versatility.

In 2013, he began his long and most memorable stint at FC Utrecht, a club where he became a reference on and off the field. There, he evolved to play mainly as a center back, taking on the captain's armband and being recognized as an example of commitment, consistency and professionalism. He played for almost a decade for the club, surpassing the 250-match mark and being a key player in competitive campaigns, including in the European playoffs.

Willem Janssen is remembered as a complete player, tactically disciplined and extremely versatile, who knew how to reinvent himself throughout his career, changing from midfielder, forward and defender, always maintaining the trust of the coaches. He is considered a true “luxury worker” of the Eredivisie and one of the great names in Utrecht's recent history.

Other Links:
FC Utrecht captain Willem Janssen (35) will stop playing football after the season | AD.nl | Dutch
Willem Janssen as right winger at FC Twente | Tubantia.nl | Dutch

Videos:
Samenvatting- PSV - FC Twente (2-6) - 2012 | Janssen scores 2 goals.
Willem Janssen (FC Utrecht) - Doelpunten 2017/2020
FC Utrecht.TV: Debuut Willem Janssen
JANSSEN | Het afscheid van El Capitano