Where are they now: Patrick Kluivert

Patrick Kluivert (33) is still Oranje’s top goalscorer with 40 goals in 79 international games. In this article “where are they now” an interview with the striker who performed on four big tournaments with Oranje.

PAST

“Most strikers score in their first Oranje game. I had to break with that tradition. I scored in my second game. In my first international against the Czech Republic in 1994 we ended how we started: 0-0. That was a pretty good team, hard to score against. But it was a dream come true. I came on in the 70est minute. I played in the orange jersey in a packed Kuip. Team manager Dick Advocaat had already suggested that he wanted to use me. Fantastic. I was only 17 years old and I made my debut in Oranje! It takes some time to realize how blessed you are, when you can play football for your country. You can’t compare it with playing for which ever club. I have played in wonderful teams in my career but the Dutch National team, that’s icing on the cake!

I view my Oranje career as successful. I played 79 internationals, that’s quite something. I played good games and lesser games. I played important matches and boring friendlies. My highpoint was the whole WC1998, I guess. And in particular the two games against Argentina and Brazil. We had the feeling we could win it, go all the way. I don’t think we as a group were ever closer. This team had it all. Great balance. Young and old. Tough and artistic. Experienced and less experienced. Hiddink created clarity about everyone’s role. So, being ousted on penalties was the biggest downer…”

NOW

“In the 2007-08 season I played for Lille in France. I wanted to change clubs but I was informed about the new shortened coaching course in Zeist. That was a tough choice. I had no idea whether coaching was for me, but it was now or never. It was the last chance on that shortened course. So, I did it. I’m almost done now and it’s an enormous challenge. I am currently doing my apprenticeship at Young PSV. If I need to mention a role model it would be Guus Hiddink. I think he’s a sensitive people manager and I think that’s my style too. I can sense when a player needs a kick or a warm arm around the shoulder.”

FUTURE

“I closely follow Oranje now. The qualifications towards the WC were pretty easy going. But it’s hard to say if we have what it takes to reach far. It’s a pretty young team. It’s not enough to be great players, you know. It takes more… Team manager Bert van Marwijk is a good man. I hope he can pick the right eleven. I’m primarely focused on the strikers. Huntelaar or Kuyt are the men for the center striker position and they both do very well, but I sort of miss the type Kluivert, if I may say so.”

“I will most certainly travel to South Africa next year. As a supporter. I’m basically ex-international although I have never formally retired. I still feel player, you know? And I haven’t even formally retired as a player. But, I’m realistic enough to know that Van Marwijk won’t select a player who just had a long sabbatical, hahaha… I probably turn it into a huge holiday and look forward to seeing my buddies play, like Wesley Sneijder and Nigel de Jong. I won’t dress up in orange, no… I am watching games partly as coach, partly as ex-player and only partly as passionate supporter. But I do feel for the lads, I know exactly what it means to be there when they’re on the pitch.”