Ambassadors
Our Ambassadors.
Football connects. Our ambassadors lend their name and network to make Football is Life visible in the world of sports and business.
Football ambassador
Peter Bosz
Peter Bosz is one of the most experienced Dutch football coaches. With a career that took him through Ajax, Borussia Dortmund, Bayer Leverkusen and PSV, he knows the international football world from the inside.
Career
- 2002Amateur league champion with AGOVV
- 2005Promotion to Eredivisie with Heracles Almelo
- 2006Technical director at Feyenoord
- 2013Head coach Vitesse, then Maccabi Tel Aviv
- 2017Europa League final with Ajax
- 2017Head coach Borussia Dortmund
- 2018Head coach Bayer Leverkusen until 2021
- 2024Two-time Eredivisie champion with PSV
“Football is more than a game: it opens doors and gives young people perspective.”
Football ambassador
Bryan Linssen
Bryan Linssen is a professional footballer with extensive Eredivisie experience. As a forward and winger, he played for eight clubs in the Netherlands, Japan and internationally.
Career
- 2008Professional debut with Fortuna Sittard
- 2010VVV-Venlo, Heracles Almelo, FC Groningen
- 2017Vitesse: 47 goals and 20 assists in 113 matches
- 2020Feyenoord: two seasons at De Kuip
- 2022Urawa Red Diamonds: adventure in Japan
- 2025NEC
“Football is Life shows how sport helps young people grow. I'm proud to contribute to that.”
Bryan Linssen
Football is Life ambassador
Football Ambassador
Rob Maas
Football Ambassador · Assistant Coach PSV
Rob Maas is an experienced football man with a rich career as player and coach at the highest level. As a friend of Paul van Zwam and former colleague at Heracles Almelo, he closely supports the mission of Football is Life.
Career
- 1989Professional debut at FC Eindhoven
- 1990RKC Waalwijk (Eredivisie)
- 1993Feyenoord: two KNVB Cups
- 1996Arminia Bielefeld: Bundesliga, player of the year
- 1998Hertha BSC: Bundesliga, two DFB-Ligapokal titles
- 2005Heracles Almelo: Eredivisie, collaboration with Peter Bosz
- 2014Vitesse: assistant coach
- 2020Bayer Leverkusen: assistant coach alongside Peter Bosz
- 2023PSV: assistant coach (current)
Football Ambassador
Bruno Martins Indi
Football Ambassador · Defender Sparta Rotterdam
Bruno Martins Indi is a Dutch international with an international career at the highest level. Raised in Rotterdam, with roots in Guinea-Bissau and Portugal. His background makes the message of Football is Life very personal to him.
Career
- 2005Feyenoord Academy, aged 13
- 2010Professional debut Feyenoord: 120 matches, 4 seasons
- 2014World Cup Brazil with Netherlands: bronze medal
- 2014FC Porto: €7.7 million, 68 matches
- 2016Stoke City (Premier League)
- 2020AZ Alkmaar: return to Eredivisie
- 2023Sparta Rotterdam (current): 34 international caps
Dirk Proper
Football Ambassador Football is Life
Football Ambassador
Dirk Proper
Football Ambassador · Midfielder NEC Nijmegen
Dirk Proper is one of the most promising young midfielders in the Netherlands. Raised in Elst, his entire career at NEC in Nijmegen, the club of the city where Football is Life is based. Alongside his football career he studies psychology at Radboud University.
Career
- 2011NEC Nijmegen Academy, aged 9
- 2019Professional debut NEC, aged 17
- 2019U17 European Championship winner with Jong Oranje
- 2021Promotion to Eredivisie with NEC
- 2024KNVB Cup final with NEC
- 2024Selected for Jong Oranje
Partners & friends
Friends of the foundation.
Organisations that actively support the mission of Football is Life.
VVCS
Association of Contract Players
Through the VVCS we receive training kits and sports equipment for our project in Soweto. The partnership creates a direct link between professional football and grassroots development in Malawi.
vvcs.nlJES Soccer Performance
KNVB-accredited football educator, Zwolle
JES Soccer Performance is a KNVB-accredited educator for amateur and professional football. Through their network and expertise they contribute to the quality of the coaching programmes within Football is Life. Ivo Spanjersberg is a lecturer affiliated with JES.
jessoccerperformance.comHumanAIze NL
Human-centred AI for organisations
HumanAIze helps organisations implement AI safely and practically. They support Football is Life in digital tools, data and measuring impact. Mano Radema, treasurer of the foundation, is the founder of HumanAIze NL.
humanaize.nlLibre Foundation
Leadership training in developing countries
Libre Foundation provides free leadership training for local organisations in developing countries. They form the methodological basis behind the Trainer Coach 1 programme of Football is Life. Paul van Zwam and Ivo Spanjersberg are trainers affiliated with Libre.
librefoundation.orgGet involved
Become an ambassador.
We are looking for people who selflessly contribute to the visibility and growth of Football is Life.
Sport & network
Help raise the profile of Football is Life within the professional sports world and open doors at clubs and organisations.
Business
Connect companies to the mission and help secure structural sponsoring and partnerships.
Community & media
Extend our reach through media, events and personal engagement. Share the story with a wider audience.
Interested? Get in touch via admin@football-is-life.nl