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John Heitinga prefers the center back spot

October 9th, 2009 | By: Jan | 16 Comments »

John Heitinga left Atletico Madrid for Everton because the chance for him to play center back is bigger in England. At Oranje, he really doesn’t care where he plays, as long as he plays. “Playing for your country is the best thing there is.”

Ask Heitinga about his biggest disappointment in his career and his answer will be his enormous knee injury when he just started to make a name for himself at Ajax. The youngster was compared with big name players like Ruud Krol and Frank de Boer when he made his way into Ajax 1 at 18 years old ( “That’s due to my long pass, I guess”) but he lost out on a whole season due to that infamous injury.

The second biggest was the substitute role at the EC2008. The25 year old was also set back by the bench position against Japan and Scotland last month.

“That was a bit of a surprise, yeah,” he says, seated in one of Sydney’s finest hotels. “I basically played all games under Van Marwijk. And against Japan, Ooijer wasn’t present but Van Marwijk picked Van der Wiel and allowed Loovens his debut.”

Van Marwijk never explained his choice to Heitinga. “And he doesn’t have to,” the defender responds. “That’s pro football. When Marco van Basten dropped me right before the EC, I did wanted to know why. You do want to know why, although it simply doesn’t change a thing, of course.”

Heitinga played almost everything under Van Basten and was picked as the best Ajax player of the season. But San Marco picked Boulah, Mathijsen and Ooijer. “It’s weird. I was so happy when we beat France and Italy but at the same time you know the EC won’t be your platform.”

Heitinga left for Atletico and impressed there as center back. “But an new coach was appointed and suddenly I found myself on the right back position. I think the center back spot is mine so I decided to take the Everton offer. I feel much more comfortable in the central position. I loved Atletico and I was happy in Madrid, but it’s not that bad to play football in the EPL.”

Heitinga hopes to replace Ooijer against the Socceroos. “And then it’s up to me to demonstrate to the coach that pot is mine. Andre is a mate, but I’m 26 years old now, I played 47 international games and I want that spot. And in all honesty, if Van Marwijk wants me on goal, I will do that.”

Tags: Group C, Heitinga, Oranje, Van Marwijk

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Comments | Add your comment

By Mohamed | October 9th, 2009 at 12:11 pm

I think heitinga didn’t progress as it was expected from him , dunno why , but i think most people who watched him in his first season at ajax expected from him to be a better defender than what he is now !
but i also have to admit that him and bouma did form the best and strongest CBs in holland in the EC qualifications , if van basten played with them in the EC , we wouldn’t lose our game against russia .
I’d also prefer the CB position for heitinga , and to be honest , johnny is just a looser in the RB position !!!

By Michel-Olivier | October 9th, 2009 at 12:12 pm

best 11 for tomorrow
———-Stekel————
boula-heitinga-mathijsen-gio
———de zeeuw———-
—–schaars—sneijder—–
kuijt——-hunter——elia

Posted from United States

By Mohamed | October 9th, 2009 at 12:34 pm

Yeah , i think BVM will start with this form .

By finnster01 | October 9th, 2009 at 12:35 pm

To be fair to Heitinga, he has done a very good job for Everton and Moyes is very happy about him.

By Jeroen | October 9th, 2009 at 1:04 pm

I expect:

—————-Steks—————
Heitinga——Boulah—–Mathijsen——v. Bronckhorst—–
———–De Zeeuw———Schaars———–
Kuyt———-Sneijder———-Elia——
————–Huntelaar————–

van marwijk still sees heitinga as the nr 1. replacement for v.d wiel on the right. engelaar will not play unless another gets injured i think. even then he might pick da silva first.

Posted from Netherlands

By fares | October 9th, 2009 at 1:57 pm

great result for jong oranje 1-0 in finland thanks to finland…

By fares | October 9th, 2009 at 1:59 pm

great result for jong oranje 1-0 in finland thanks to pieters…

By OranjeRules | October 9th, 2009 at 2:28 pm

Personally I like M.O.’s line-up for tomorrow, looks pretty strong.

When they are at full strength (at WC-2010) I would envision

—————–VDS—————–
Boula—-Heitinga—-Mathijsen—-Gio
—————-de Jong————–
———-MVB———–Sneijder—–
RVP————–RVN———–Robben

Perhaps move RVP back to MVB’s spot and have Kuyt play out wide right but I think defensively we will need MVB or even Schaars.

By finnster01 | October 9th, 2009 at 2:53 pm

You can not possibly be serious to drop Kuyt from the starting lineup.

He’s defense and attack in the same package and position. You have to have him roam the right hand side.

By Sol | October 9th, 2009 at 3:24 pm

I have a feeling Schaars will play a good game tomorrow. Don’t know why.

Posted from Netherlands

By fares | October 9th, 2009 at 4:58 pm

no he will not even be a starter.

By Jan | October 9th, 2009 at 5:04 pm

Schaars won’t make many mistakes tonight. Because he’s benched

By Jeroen | October 9th, 2009 at 5:58 pm

If he picks da Silva over Schaars I am going to be very disappointed.

Posted from Netherlands

By Alex | October 9th, 2009 at 7:04 pm

It’s hard to choose between Boulahrouz and Heitinga, cause they can both defend, but neither of them really have the attacking qualities to be a real threat too, both have a good crosspass, Heitinga can deliver a good cross, but lacks pace( he did, but looks like he has lost it), and Boulahrouz lacks the technique to come upfront and deliver a good cross/assist.
What is obvious is that Boulah looked a far more certain/better RB defensively than Heitinga. But they both prefer CB and their skills tell the same story right now, they are not natural RB’s.
I only see one solution,
Kuyt-Boulahrouz-Heitinga-Mathijsen……… no won’t really work though
I expect
Heitinga-Boulahrouz-Mathijsen-Gio(hope Braafheid)
——-De Zeeuw-Schaars(or V.d.Vaart)
Kuyt——Sneijder——-Elia
———Huntelaar
He doesn’t have that many good options anyway, Braafheid, Babel, V.d.Vaart, Engelaar, Da Silva, who else isn’t “injured”?

BTW, I watched that U-21 match and Bruma(or V.Homoet as his actual name was at birth) looked an impressive CB, like he’s already playing next to Terry every week. No wonder he’s in Chelsea’s first team already. Krul pulled of a magnificent save in the end, preventing a tie.

Posted from Netherlands

By Alex | October 9th, 2009 at 7:15 pm

Heitinga didn’t look that good for Everton as RB, but they were impressed with his latest display at CB. he played RB against Portsmouth and CB against Stoke, so quality of the opposite side might have played a part, though Portsmouth aren’t exactly doing well too.

Posted from Netherlands

By Rob | October 9th, 2009 at 8:06 pm

Heitinga’s only position is centre back – this right back thing is ridiculous. Good to hear he thinks he’ll get a chance at centre-back for Everton – when Yobo, Jagielka and Distin are fit though, I can’t see anything else but him being shuttled out onto that right back spot. Jagielka would probably be better there mind, and is at least as versatile as Heitinga.

Like what I’m hearing from the guy. Not a massive ego – believes the coach doesn’t need to explain himself every time he changes the line-up. Take note Mark Van Bommel you massive egotistical tossbucket. Mind you – I’d be pretty pissed off if I got replaced by Glenn bleedin’ Loovens.

Posted from United Kingdom