Education
He played a big part in their run to the semi finals of the FA Cup, and they also finished second in the league that season.
He played a big part in their run to the semi finals of the FA Cup, and they also finished second in the league that season.
He started his professional career in 1970 with Nippon Electric Corporation Nijmegen. In 1973 he moved to Football Club Twente, where the midfielder played for nearly six seasons. He helped them finished second again the following year, but a year later he departed from Portman Road after four years to sign for Brian Clough"s Nottingham Forest, but he was not nearly as successful at the City Ground as he had been in East Anglia, and he had left the club within months.
He also had a stint in the NASL with the Vancouver Whitecaps.
In 1984 he returned to his native country, to play for Fortuna Sittard (1984–1987), Football Club Groningen (1987–1988) and Vitesse Arnhem (1988–1991). After his active career he became a football manager.
In 1997 he became manager for the Swedish club Malmö FF and spent two years there. After several seasons without success, Thijssen was sacked as manager for Malmö FF during the middle of season 98.
At the time of his dismissal Malmö was in danger of being relegated to the first division(Superettan) for the first time in the club"s history.
Thijssen was replaced by Roland Andersson and Thomas Sjöberg. On 24 November 2014, Thijssen was named interim coach of the Brisbane Roar in the Australian A-league. As a player.