| Marco Boogers | |
| Birth Date: | 12 January 1967 |
| Birth Place: | Dordrecht, Netherlands |
| Height: | 1.85 m[1] |
| Position: | Forward |
| Youthclubs1: | EBOH |
| Youthclubs2: | Feyenoord |
| Years1: | 1986–1988 |
| Years2: | 1988–1990 |
| Years3: | 1990–1991 |
| Years4: | 1991–1992 |
| Years5: | 1992–1995 |
| Years6: | 1995–1996 |
| Years7: | 1996 |
| Years8: | 1996–1997 |
| Years9: | 1997–1999 |
| Years10: | 1999–2003 |
| Clubs1: | DS'79 |
| Clubs2: | FC Utrecht |
| Clubs3: | RKC |
| Clubs4: | Fortuna Sittard |
| Clubs5: | Sparta Rotterdam |
| Clubs6: | West Ham United |
| Clubs7: | → Groningen (loan) |
| Clubs8: | RKC Waalwijk[2] |
| Clubs9: | FC Volendam |
| Clubs10: | Dordrecht '90 |
| Caps1: | 60 |
| Caps2: | 60 |
| Caps3: | 33 |
| Caps4: | 29 |
| Caps5: | 25 |
| Caps6: | 4 |
| Caps7: | 0 |
| Caps8: | 9 |
| Caps9: | 51 |
| Caps10: | 128 |
| Goals1: | 18 |
| Goals2: | 15 |
| Goals3: | 14 |
| Goals4: | 13 |
| Goals5: | 11 |
| Goals6: | 0 |
| Goals7: | 0 |
| Goals8: | 0 |
| Goals9: | 25 |
| Goals10: | 66 |
| Totalcaps: | 399 |
| Totalgoals: | 162 |
| Manageryears1: | 2005 |
| Managerclubs1: | FC Dordrecht (interim manager) |
Marco Boogers (born 12 January 1967) is a Dutch former professional footballer who played as a forward. Boogers spent almost all of his career in the Netherlands, apart from an ill-fated spell at English club West Ham United. He later worked as technical director at FC Dordrecht and managed the club on an interim basis in 2005.
After a decade playing in the Netherlands, especially prolific in their second tier Eerste Divisie, Boogers joined West Ham United from Sparta Rotterdam for £1 million in July 1995,[3] even though West Ham manager Harry Redknapp had never seen him play.[4] Coming on as a substitute against Manchester United at Old Trafford in only his second appearance for the club, he was almost immediately sent off for a violent knee-high challenge on Gary Neville.[5] The press called it a "horror tackle" and suggested that Boogers was hired to injure a Manchester United player on purpose.[6] Boogers himself claimed the wet grass made him slide too far and noted that Neville was able to finish the match, but nevertheless he was suspended for four matches. In November he returned as a substitute against Aston Villa in a 4–1 loss. He played his last match a month later, on 2 December, against Blackburn Rovers in a 4–2 defeat. He never started a league match for West Ham; all four of his appearances for the club were as a substitute.[7]
During his first few months at West Ham Boogers had been suffering from worsening pain in his knee. After an MRI scan he underwent an emergency surgery. As his recovery was expected to take three months he was given permission by Redknapp to return to the Netherlands on 28 December in order to attend the birth of his son. While Boogers was recovering from his injury Redknapp signed another striker, Iain Dowie, rendering Boogers surplus to requirements.[8]
In February 1996, Boogers was loaned out to Groningen for the remainder of the season, but a few days before he was scheduled to play his first match his knee problems returned and worsened, sending him back into recovery until March 1997. Even though he was still under contract at West Ham, Boogers knew he would not play there again. He last visited the club in February 1996 and never returned.
He finished his career playing for RKC Waalwijk, FC Volendam and Dordrecht '90.
After retiring as a player, Boogers worked for hometown club Dordrecht as technical director. His position was under threat, after he infamously clashed with then coach Jan Everse over Boogers' behaviour in 2015.[9] The book Koning van de Krommedijk (King of the Krommedijk stadium) was written about Dordrecht's 2014–15 Eredivisie season, but primarily about Boogers.[10]
He was briefly caretaker manager in 2005 after Robert Verbeek was dismissed.[11]
After returning to his previous role, Boogers left the club in August 2017.[12]
Redknapp would later criticise Boogers in an interview, labelling him a poor player. He also claimed that he never saw Boogers play and that he contracted him on a whim based on a videotape where he appeared to be a world class player. Boogers himself disputed this and claimed scouts from West Ham United attended several of his matches with Sparta before signing him.
In 2007 Boogers was voted number 19 in The Times poll of the "50 Worst footballers (to grace the Premier League)."[13]
During his convalescence in the Netherlands, The Sun newspaper ran an article claiming Boogers was depressed and had been found on a mobile home site in the Netherlands. Bill Prosser, who worked as West Ham United's PA and travel arranger at the time, disputed this claim, explaining to The Guardian's "The Fiver":