Interview Pierre van Hooijdonk

As requested:

After a full and rich career Pierre van Hooijdonk threw the towel. After this summer he’ll start the coaching course 1, so without a doubt, we’ll see him again.

Glad it’s all over?

“Yeah, at that moment I was. The last season with Feyenoord was killing. But now the new season is on I can feel it itching again. Ah well, the ball will always roll with me, but not at a pro-level anymore I guess.”

I guess???

“I learned never to say never. But no, it’s going to be Steenbergen 4, with my mates.”

In 2005 you came back from Turkey and played for “your” NAC. Within 6 months you left. What happened?

“I always said that if the chance would arise, I’d do it. It felt right, but it didn’t turn out to be right. I had certain ideas what the club needed. I wanted to think along with management about the future, I had firm ideas. Some people felt threatened. I never wanted to push people out, I wanted to help NAC grow. But NAC’s management didn’t want to follow me in these ideas, and I decided I just wanted to play football. So…”

So, you didn’t feel hailed as the Lost Son?

“I sensed that people thought that Ton Lokhoff was still coach because of me. They thought Ton and I were the same people. As friends, we are. But I can separate that. I was player, he was coach.”

Is your love for NAC still intact?

“I love the club, for sure. But some people at NAC…no… I still feel that NAC-feeling when I play with Old NAC. But some people at NAC make my neck hair stand upright.”

Who?

“Management.”

Lokhoff was fired in December 2005 and Cees Lok came. And then you left pretty quickly.

“Lok thought I was too close with Ton. We never had one collision, but when I told that I didn’t want to renew my contract, Lok said he’d bench me. You are the best of the pack, he said, but some players feel limited by your presence. Bullshit.”

You wanted to go immediately.

“NAC wanted to let me go too. No one did any effort to keep me. They just said: don’t go to our direct rivals. That was funny. Tottenham Hotspur wanted to sign me! And then Feyenoord came. I had so many good years in Rotterdam. Then NAC said: but if you love the club, why not sit on the bench for us. Come on…I’ve got still some pride left.”

Why leave Holland so young at the start of your career?

“I’ve always been an adventurer. I was doing well in Holland, but the big clubs were hesitating. I wanted to go to Feyenoord, but they weren’t sure of me. Then this opportunity to move to Celtic came along. I visited the club and was gob smacked. So big, so warm. And it was a huge step up. I loved it. And never regretted the move.”

In those days, some people called you a money-wolf (geldwolf).

“I couldn’t care less, you know. I know what happened and why that rumour was started. It’s all politics. I have principles. A word is a word. I had a clash with the Celtic management. I may have said some things that I shouldn’t have… And at Forest, they screwed me over. Their were agreements and they sold out the team during summer. I decided I wanted to leave but they wouldn’t let me. Well, I’m not a slave so I went on strike.”

In those days, when you were at Forest, you became a regular in Oranje.

“I wasn’t first choice and we had so many talented players. It was always an honor to be part of Oranje and I feel I had a good impact even when I didn’t play.”

And then Vitesse?

“A good time. We had a great team, a good organization, good technical staff… But things didn’t go too well financially, and I had the opportunity to sign for Benfica.”

Another lowpoint?

“Not at all! Portugal was a great experience. You learn a lot, as a person. It was not always easy but I scored 19 goals. Change of management, different ideas… they wanted to sell me like a product to some team, but I only wanted to go to Feyenoord.”

Hands up for Pi-Air?

“(laughing) It was a good time. What a strong and tight unit we were. It was sometimes scary, you knew we’d win. Everything clicked, particularly in that UEFA cup season.”

How do you see yourself as coach? At Feyenoord you had constant clashes with the youngsters.

“As a coach, you’re the boss and as player you are not. That’s the difference. You have to be firm. If one player makes a mistake, you have to act. Otherwise other players think: oh, I can get away with that as well. This is how you maintain the club culture.”

What was your best match ever?

“Pff… The one with the best memories was the Feyenoord – PSV for the UEFA Cup 2002. That was quite a scenario.”
(Pierre headed the equalizer home in stoppage time and scored the deciding penalty)

Best Stadium you ever played?

“Celtic Park, in Glasgow.”

Ugliest grounds?

“VCV Zeeland.”

Best team mate ever?

“Ronald de Boer, in the Dutch Team.”.

Most annoying opponent?

“Marco Materazzi, Inter Milaan defender. But I mean this as a compliment.”

What was your biggest laugh in football?

“With Paul Bosvelt in my first Feyenoord period. We were in a plane and he embarrassed the stewardesses with a huge dildo he had and he kept on showing it under his pants.”

Highpoint in your career?

“Winning the UEFA Cup with Feyenoord in 2002.”

Lowpoint?

“My last NAC period. Disaster.”

Pasport
Name: Petrus Ferdinandus Johannes van Hooijdonk- Born: 29-11-1969 (Steenbergen.

Lives in: Breda

Partner: Corine

Kids: son Sydney (7) and daughter Fay (2)

Professional clubs: RBC, NAC, Celtic, Nottingham Forest, Vitesse, Benfica, Feyenoord, Fenerbahce, NAC, Feyenoord

Prizes: UEFA-cup (2002, Feyenoord), champion (2004, 2005, Fenerbahce), Scottish FA-cup (Celtic, 1995) , Schots top scorer(1996),
Dutch top scorer (2002), Dutch player of the Year(2002)

International games: 46 (14 goals)