Leo Beenhakker back at Feyenoord

This weekend, El Classico is on the program. The one and only. In an earlier post I wrote about the historic backdrop of this massive game. This time around, both teams need a win. Feyenoord because it needs to move to the left side of the standings. Ajax, because it lost sight of leader AZ in the last few weeks and the word “crisis” in Amsterdam is already whispered.

Feyenoord lost a coach, a club-icon and assistant and a technical director. The new board and assistant coach Leon Vlemmings are the only ones guarding the ship.

That’s different to Ajax though, where club icons Van Basten, Van ‘t Schip and Blind are still going strong, while it was confirmed last week that another icon, Frank de Boer, will move up from the youth to get Ajax’ mojo back. All is not lost in Amsterdam, but Ajax needs a win!

The news in Rotterdam wasn’t all that bad either. True, veteran goalie Henk Timmer was told he isn’t needed next season (Feyenoord wants to sign Utrecht’s Vorm), but at the same time Don “Sigh” Leo Beenhakker is lured back to the Stadium Club. In the remainder of this season, the team manager for Poland will advice Feyenoord, and in the future…who knows… Technical director seems a good job for the grey-haired lion.

When the Beenhakker news is presented in the press room in Rotterdam, someone mentions the name “Coolsingel” (the famous strip in Rotterdam, where the club presents the cup to the fans, whenever they won something…for our younger readers: Feyenoord did win things in the past!). Beenhakker: “That’s a good word. I discussed it with Mario (Been) and we decided we want to be there again soon! Even if I have to pushed in wheelchair!”.

And the most wondrous thing is: no one laughed….

Feyenoord is down. There is no money. The fans are numb. No one laughs in the city these days, but with Beenhakker on the team, the future suddenly looks bright.

It’s always a sight to behold: Beenhakker addressing the people.

Even the new Feyenoord boardmembers seem to gain years whenever Don Leo is around.

“Cut it out, man. I’m not like…the old fatherfigure or something… Ol’ Grey Leo. Piss off!”

Leo is a populist. A man of the people. The one-liners, the sighs, the over-acting. We’ve all seen it before, but we like it. Leo is always downplaying everything, but don’t question his love for Feyenoord, despite his various stints at Ajax. “Feyenoord is in my blood. Even before they poured me a coffee I’d said YES.”

And he doesn’t get paid. “There is no deadline, no money transfer, no contract, no official job title, no fancy business cards… There are things in life you can’t say “no” too. I was annoyed to read I wanted to earn a big salary. Come on! That’s never been the issue. I wanted to do this, only if I could combine it.”

Guus Hiddink gets the green light from Russia to work at Chelsea. The Polish federation did not allow Leo to work for Feyenoord. But the Federation did say that Leo can do whatever he wants in his spare time.

Don Leo: ” I accepted their decision and respect it. I could have gone fishing on my off day, now I’ll support Feyenoord.”

Poland will play two games, in March and in June. In the meantime, Leo thinks there’s ample time for Feyenoord. “I will travel to Poland to watch games every now and then, but for the rest of it, it’s 100% my new hobby.”

And where does Leo start? “I’ll start on Monday. I want to talk to all involved. Just get an idea of the situation.”

Feyenoord is 12th now… “I can see that. It’s sad. We need to brush this season away as soon as possible, by moving up on the tables. It’s interesting… In 1997 I came in and it looked desolate, but we did have quality then and we won the title in the next season. I can see a scenario like that. I watched the DVDs and Feyenoord does not have to be ashamed for their material.”

“But…things need to be changed. We need a balance, in many aspects. There are tremendous players here, but we also need spirit, we need mentality. We need a Team!”

Isn’t money an issue? “Well, there is money. There are influential and wealthy people out there who are willing to help. I want to talk to all these people. Shake their hands. But at the same time, I don’t want the players to think we will be buying eleven new players! It doesn’t work like that. I want to assess what we’ve got, then we’ll assess what we miss and then we’ll assess how to get that missing part in. Sometimes, it’s money you need to do this, but not always…”

So, Beenhakker doesn’t have a series of top players in his luggage. “No, I don’t have any Kaka’s or Poopoo’s or whatever you name them. And we don’t need them either. In a couple of months, people will be walking the streets of Rotterdam with a smile on their face. You watch it.”

The fact that Mario Been will be Feyenoord next coach made the decision for Beenhakker easier. “Listen, Feyenoord is in my blood, but so is that little fella. I’ve know him for so long. As a youth player, as a pro and as a coach. He was my assistant in the 1990s and I could tell he is one of the most talented coaches we have. I have all the confidence in him.”

How will you work together, next season? “I can’t tell you exactly now, but in general: Mario needs to coach and train. That’s what he’s go at. Work with the players, form the team, etc. All the fringe stuff and bullshit, he can leave to me. I think I am doing this for 44 years now, so I know what to expect.”

Didn’t Leo wanted to be the interim coach for this season? “Oh no… Leon Vlemmings is very capable. And when he needs me, he knows where to find me…”