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Mario Been Feyenoord’s El Salvador?

June 21st, 2009 | By: Jan | 23 Comments »

The return of Mario Been at Feyenoord brought hope to Rotterdam. Almost 12,000 fans gathered in De Kuip to welcome Feyenoord’s fave son back, when he started training in Rotterdam.

And Been had good news too: “I know an x-number of investors have agreed to help us, so I do feel we can strengthen the group.”

The 45 year old was hailed back as the long lost son. Speaker Peter Houtman announced the new coach with the following words: “He came home, our new coach: Mario Been!!”. It was followed by an ovational applause from the specially constructed stands alongside the trainings pitch. Been responded with two thumbs up and his right hand to the heart. The Rotterdam born former playmaker was back on his beloved grounds, where he started as a youth player and later worked as Van Marwijk’s assistant.

All hope is aimed at Been, who performed outstandingly with limited resources at Excelsior and NEC. “Mario for President” one banner claimed…

And everything he did, last Sunday, was greeted with cheers. Whenever he put a practice in motion, the crowd chanted his name. “This welcome was unbelievable, even as a player I never experienced this. I’m touched.”

The Legion does seem to realize that Been is no wizard and it will be tough to push the number seven of last season higher from day one. No one mentions the words “title” or “champion”. Even though Been announced to be able to invest some money. “How much? I can’t say, but it’s a significant number, I can tell you. I don’t carry it around in my wallet everyday….”.

Thanks to an external financier, Been and Leo Beenhakker – his advisor – were able to sign Spanish richtback Dani Fernandez. The two will continue their quest for a center back and a striker. The signing of a new goalie (Jerzy Dudek was named) is less important. Been has senior Rob van Dijk and young talents Edwin Mulder and Darley Torres at his disposal.

Long time injury cases Ron Vlaar and Jon De Guzman will make their comeback on the training pitch sometime this week….

Many fans were wearing the newly produced t-shirt, a spin on the famous Che shirt (the former Marxist revolutionary leader), but this time with Mario Been’s head on it. “Me, the new El Salvador?”, asks Been… “That’s a big too much, I’d say. The shirt I have seen and it is used as a fund raiser for the youth development branche. So, I said yes. I want everyone in Holland to talk about Feyenoord with respect again. That’s my main goal. This club needs to play European football every season and doesn’t belong in the right column of the standings… But a saviour…no!”

Been also confirmed to be almost done with the new right-footed center back. “I actually hope he’ll be playing with us next weekend when we play our first friendly.”

Mario Been also hopes to sign Roda JC striker Sekou Cisse, but the priority is a defender. He also talked to Dudek, but the chance of the Polish goalie to leave Madrid to come to Holland is small. “I haven’t heard in weeks…,” says Been.

“We only signed one player (Dani Fernandez) and still we sold 35.000 seasons’ tickets. Can you imagine what happens when we are able to sign two more? We’ll need to build another ring on De Kuip! That’s the strength of Feyenoord.”

Remarkable faces on the trainings pitch were Dwight Tiendalli and Nicky Hofs, both allowed to leave the club. But it was surprising how many support Hofs received from the fans, who took the little midfielder in their heart. “But still, Hofs is allowed to go,” Been remarked.

Mario Been enjoyed his summer break in Spain, on the coast somewhere. And whenever he walked the little village for a stroll, people would come up to him to wish him strength and good luck. “As if I was going to undergo a severe rootcanal treatment,” he laughs. “Feyenoord lost at home against NEC, De Graafschap and Roda JC. We lost away against Volendam. Even a bad Feyenoord can’t except that. When we would have done better against these four opponents, we would have ended on the number 5 spot.”

Been spent days working on his opening speech, but didn’t use it. “Leo Beenhakker opened before me and you know what happens then… I could immediately throw my speech away. But we all feel we can something grand in Rotterdam. At least secure European football. I like travel…”

The fitness center, infamously produced by predecessor Gertjan Verbeek, is still there. “But I can assure we won’t be spending too much time there,” Been winked.

The hugely talented and in demand Luc Castaignos will get a chance to demonstrate his skills under Mario Been. When he’s back from holiday, the youngster is allowed to train with the big boys once or twice a week.

Castaignos is courted by Wenger’s Arsenal and although he does like to sign for the Gunners, he wants to stay in Rotterdam for at least one more season. “I don’t know Luc yet, but his coach – Cor Adriaanse – is tremendously positive about him. And Cor isn’t a guy to be overly positive too soon. We need to offer Luc a perspective. He’s only 16 years old, but when you’re good enough, you’re old enough. Vanenburg, Seedorf… they were 16 when they made their debuts and I don’t think they did that bad. I’ll have a good talk to him when he gets back and I’ll tell him my plans.”

Tags: Feyenoord, Gio, Group C, Leo Beenhakker, Luc Castaignos, Mario Been, Roy Makaay

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Comments

By Tiju | June 22nd, 2009 at 4:26 am

mariobeen the future bondscoach?????????????????

Posted from India

By Tiju | June 22nd, 2009 at 6:34 am

i am not surprised by brazil result against Italy.thats the way it should be.if italy beats brazil it would have been a surprise for me.
i had good hopes on egypt against italy and they won it.the same feeling i had about USA,but unlucky USA couldn’t win against the lucky blue bastards.
there is no wonder as long as italy plays ugly football they will get punishment by good attacking teams.hope it will continue for some time.
USA ’s entry to last four was like a miracle for me.Egypt payed the penalty for silly mistakes.
but i feel USA is terrifc team with out good finishers.if they have zlatan/RVN,Hunter/Drogba i am sure they will reach minimum semi of the WC2010.

Posted from India

By Jan | June 22nd, 2009 at 10:23 am

ORlando Engelaar signs at PSV for 4 years.

Pranjic transfer to Bayern is signed.

By Jan | June 22nd, 2009 at 10:25 am

Fukc! The Vuvuzela will be introduced in Dutch football stadium next season

By Jeroen | June 22nd, 2009 at 10:42 am

wow, please do not compare the backwash of the football world, the USA, with the rest of us in saying they will make the semis. Next round the USA will feel the pain of Spain and realize really quickly that they have no place even in the quarter finals. The best four teams in the world right now are

Holland, Brazil, Spain, England. After that you have about another 15 countries, AT LEAST, before the USA should even be mentioned in the same breath. When your star player is Landon Donovan, it says enough.

Posted from Netherlands

By goose | June 22nd, 2009 at 12:40 pm

something needs to be done bout these horns!! i cant watch a game for 10 minutes without getting f annoyed!!

btw ; Engelaar sucks but hes prob. just good enough for the Eredivisie, lets all just pray hell never, ever, wear a oranje shirt again!!

Posted from Netherlands

By finnster01 | June 22nd, 2009 at 1:21 pm

@Goose: Those horns are annoying indeed. Imagine someone sticking one of those in your ear behind you? It sounds like they are all playing in the nest of a bunch of pissed off bumble bees.

By alaa | June 22nd, 2009 at 3:02 pm

@Jeroen,
I agree 100% man,the united states is way behind europe, south america and a part of africa when we talk about soccer. the confederations cup is just a small competetion but they would never make it to a semi final in the world cup.

By Bart | June 22nd, 2009 at 3:25 pm

The horns don’t really bother me, I don’t understand why you people hate them so much. :p I watched Brazil vs. Italy and to be honest .. Brazil didn’t impress me all that much. Italy’s defending was horrible as well :p

Posted from Canada

By goose | June 22nd, 2009 at 4:11 pm

@finn ; “pissed off bumble bees” haha ..

Posted from Netherlands

By Mario | June 22nd, 2009 at 9:05 pm

Italy´s team lack quality…Dossena playing the position that once played Paola Maldini says it all. By the way, Cannavaro should be axed, he is worst than Ooijer now…slow as shit!

By Tiju | June 22nd, 2009 at 11:06 pm

@Jan USA is a hardworking team with some talent in the midfeild thats what i said.they lack a superfinisher.Only beacuse of that they cannt make evn to quarter final.
B/W i agree holland,brazil,spain and england are the best four team in the world now.But worldcup draw is funny and we may collide eachother and will burnout, and finally the fucking italy or germans will get the girl.

Posted from India

By Mario | June 22nd, 2009 at 11:47 pm

Tiju…and who is your candidate to win the Confederations Cup?. I´d say Spain…what about u buddy?

By finnster01 | June 23rd, 2009 at 12:12 am

Personally I think the Klingons or the Borgs will win the United Federation of Planets Cup this year.

Sorry, I just have a real hard time getting exited over a tournament like this.

By Tiju | June 23rd, 2009 at 2:42 am

@mario it should be spain mario.hope it will be.

Posted from India

By Carlos | June 23rd, 2009 at 4:43 am

Before he joined Real Madrid he was considered one of the best in the world, he won the Ballon d’Or, was hailed as better than Shearer or Charlton. The ultimate player – at Real got little playing time and was soon sold off again, now, still below 30 years is being offered 50,000 pounds/week (compared to Ronaldo 500,000). Can’t make the National team anymore either. What was his name again ? Michael Owen ! Hope our Dutchies learn from that experience.

Posted from Singapore

By stephen | June 23rd, 2009 at 9:50 am

I don’t mind the Conf cup actually. It’s kinda fun to see the likes of Spain, Brazil and Italy play in a tournament together… teams I really don’t get to see much. I’m sure if the Dutchies were playing, we would all be excited to play any of the above listed teams and be able to guage our teams progress. It whets my appetite for next year. And of course the US is not a great team, or even a good team, but at best probably average. But sometimes average teams can suprise in cup play. I mean, didn’t they make the quarters in ‘02? You probably didn’t know that because the Dutch didn’t make that tournament, which means you probably weren’t watching. But that is what makes these tournaments so fun to watch for all fans, sometimes the best lose, and sometimes the mediocre move on. Makes for exciting stuff.

Posted from United States

By finnster01 | June 23rd, 2009 at 11:22 am

Fair point Stephen but why do you have to turn the sound down because you think there is a bunch of bees flying around the house?

By stephen | June 23rd, 2009 at 11:29 am

Yes, that is very annoying. I hope there is some resolution before the big dance. I don’t know how people can blow those things for a couple of hours and enjoy themselves.

Posted from United States

By EJB | June 23rd, 2009 at 11:30 am

there is a lot of mediocrity in this confed cup tourney. wake me when its spain v brazil time.

spain wins by 2

Posted from United States

By sonneveld | June 23rd, 2009 at 12:19 pm

the friendly vs england is our conf cup, doesn’t seem to matter but could still make a diffence and should be interesting

By susanne | June 23rd, 2009 at 4:34 pm

Yep. I agree, I am looking forward to the England game. It will be a good test. About team USA, I quite like them, always. Not sure why. I think it’s the mentality. They are winners pur sang. You often see that with American athletes. We sometimes seem to lack that..

Posted from Netherlands

By Jan | June 23rd, 2009 at 8:48 pm

EPL club Birmingham – managed by former Rangers coach McLeish – want to sign Celtic defender Glenn Loovens. Loovens made his debut in Europe for Feyenoord against McLeish and Glasgow Rangers. But new Celtic coach Mowbray wants to build the defense around Loovens, who was crowned MOTM against Rangers in last years Old Firm, and doesn’t want to see him leave. Bert van Marwijk was present to see his former pupil play: “He’s really close to getting an invite…”

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