Hedwiges Maduro finally settles in Valencia

Hedwiges Maduro was hailed as Ajax and Oranje’s next big thing. Before Babel and Emanuelson broke into the team, Maduro’s name and reputation preceded his actual performance. One Marco van Basten and one John van ‘t Schip were coach of the Ajax youth and they recognized their ol’ buddy Rijkaard in the young and graceful midfielder.

When Van Basten and Van ‘t Schip got promoted to coach Oranje, it was only matter of time before some of the Ajax youngsters got the call. Maduro is the beezkneez, every one could see. Skills, vision, grace…but….the kid’s still young and with all Ajax youthful talents, he never encountered a lot of resistance in his games. Mentally? Maybe not as strong…

When things went well for Hedwiges, they went very well. Hailed as the new Ajax leader, hailed as the successor to Rijkaard for Oranje. Foppe de Haan used Maduro in his Young Oranje teams and the kid did well with De Haan. But at the same time, the physical and mental pressures were too much for Maduro.

Football players get better and stronger when they rest. Just ask Romario. But whenever his mates took a break to go to the beach, the KNVB wanted Maduro to play a tourney. World Cups and European Cup tournaments with the Young Oranje teams and Van Basten in his wisdom called on Maduro for the WC2006.

We all know what happened next. Fatigue. Form loss. Lack of confidence. Little injuries. And Henk ten Cate .

Maduro left – like Van der Vaart did before him – too early to find glory elsewhere. Valencia was happy to snatch the player up.

In his first half year at Valencia, Maduro got lost. Signed by Ronald Koeman, the Ajax talent couldn’t have come to Valencia in a worse season. Koeman never got the team rockin’ and Koeman signing Maduro was one of the victims. Koeman left and Maduro lost his spot.

But Hedwiges turned out to be a fighter after all. Since last month, the youngster started to get playing time again, now Valencia is the number 2 in La Liga.

Last Wednesday, in the UEFA Cup match against Saint-Etienne (2-2), the midfielder played the whole game. “It may not be a lot when you all add it up, but when you take into account how deep I had sunken…”

His participation at the Olympics last summer made his future unsure. The 12 times capped international only met his new coach Emery when the preparation was over and the cards were dealt.

Maduro: “Emery was honest with me. He had a team in his head and told me to join the queue at the back. The experienced Albelda was the center player in midfield. But what can you do? Work hard at the training. Every time again. And I get payed dividends now.”

He was able to witness how Los Che changed their situation 180 degrees: from relegation candidate to front runner. “Why does it work this season? Hmm…we all started at the ground level again and Emery is a positive thinker. He said: show the world how good you are. And we are! We have Villa, Marchena, David Silva, Mata… We’ve got five regular internationals playing for the European Champs.”

“The biggest difference between Emery and Ronald Koeman? The passion… Emery is 37 years old. He is the youngest coach in the Primera Division. He is a fanatic, he races us in sprints and loves to join in at training. It’s more fun. Koeman was more at a distance. Observing… I do feel he was just unlucky here.”

Maduro had planned to make a firm decision about his situation in December. “If I hadn’t been able to play at all, I was probably going to leave. I need to play or have a chance to play. But the situation has changed. Emery and the club management are very content and they refuse to loan me out. I played every match under Koeman, and that’s my goal now. I want to start every game. It’s up to me to convince Emery.”

I’d say: hurry up Hedwiges! ORanje can use a player like you in the back four….