Where are they now: Regi Blinker

Regi Blinker played three matches for Oranje. The left winger started his pro carreer at Feyenoord and played 400 official matches for Feyenoord, Celtic and Sparta. He retired from football in 2003. Where is he now?

PAST
“My debut was on March 24, 1993 against San Marino. A WC qualification match. I started in the game but was subbed after 70 minutes or so. Peter van Vossen came on for me. We won 6-0. Man, I was so nervous and it showed too. Little things, you know? First touches. A shot on goal that sailed past. And you wonder…what would have happened if I scored that one….?

My second game for Oranje was even more tense. It was in De Kuip, my homegrounds, and against Norway. They were tough in those days, but probably still are. Mentally and physically strong guys. It’s weird to play in your own stadium with an orange jersey… You want to do it all and be superman. My last game was a friendly against Tunisia. Team manager Dick Advocaat didn’t pick me for further selections and I didn’t make it to the WC in the USA, like my buddy Taument. It was my dream, and I didn’t reach that goal. But, I came close. It’s always something extra when you realize your an ex-international. I’ve got posters in my office, with me on it, next to players like Bergkamp, Overmars, Ronald Koeman, Jonk, Frankie Rijkaard… Pretty special. A great team, and there I am. Standing next to them.”

“When I started at Feyenoord, I think we had a bit of an inferiority complex versus the Ajax guys, who did so well. I was one of Feyenoord’s “super talents” in the youth system. A lot was done on technical skills and dribbling in the youth and I was pretty good at that. But at the top level, it’s more than that. It’s mental, it’s vision and concentration and all that. I think, looking back, I was spoiled a bit. It took some time for me to be able to suffer, you know? To make myself better. I was the “almost” kid for a while and then, with Wim Jansen and Willem van Hanegem, things changed. Our team got that “whatdayawant” mentality, with Henk Fraser and John de Wolf and I started to understand what it was all about… Imagine me, ending up at Celtic in Scotland, hahaha…”

NOW
“In 2003, Rob Jansen, my manager, offered me a job as players’ manager and scout. I started my own management buro after that. It’s funny, because as a promotional stunt, we decided to publish this magazine for retired players, “Life After Football”. A glossy lifestyle magazine with 160 pages of typical football players’ themes, except football. So, it’s fitness, nutrition, fashion, insurance, finance stuff, professional development courses… We started with 10.000 magazines in circulation, for the fun of it. It was aimed at people in football, but from March onwards we’ll go for a broader public, with a circulation of 30.000. It’s really successful and now we have spin off, LAF’ly, which is aimed at women. Another success. So, I think I’ll stop my managerial activities and focus on the titles now.”

“I do not long to feel grass under my feet, no. I have no intention becoming a coach. I have worked with 15 odd coaches and I saw them all age within the season. I like to be free, young and independent thank you very much. But I do visit the pitch every now and then. I play football with the ex-internationals, with the RTL Star team and with Old Feyenoord. I also do clinics for corporate clients, but to be totally married to football, nah… I’ve played in the top for 17 years. Day in day out, my candle died down a bit.”

FUTURE
“I follow Oranje very closely. I love to see them play. And of course, I did interviews with most of them for my magazine. And I do visit the stadiums regularly. Sometimes I do stuff for sponsors. Last time, I was in charge of the kids who accompany the players onto the pitch. When I watch football, I watch like a fan, not as an ex-player or someone who knows the lads. I can yell, curse and explode like the best of them, hahaha….”

“This team has a lot of potential and is pretty talented. They were kids, some years back, but they’re men now. In 2010, we’ll see them at their top. And they all play, or most of them, for the top of the planet, right? Liverpool, Arsenal, Real Madrid… And some at Feyenoord, hahaha… I think we’ll see some magic in South Africa. My personal fave is Robin van Persie. Makes sense, eh? I saw him come in the youth. He was just a kid and he played so easily, everything on the flow, everything on skill. And everything with his left foot. He started on the left wing, just like I did. When I saw him first, I thought, damn…he’s going to be better than me. And he did. He’s everything. I was a winger, could play striker in 4-4-2 as well. Robin can do it all, winger, central striker, shadow striker, playmaker… When he makes it through to his thirties, I bet you he’ll be an awesome libero. And those free kicks. I couldn’t do that at all!”

“I only know Bert van Marwijk from “hi” and “how are you”, but I can tell you, that is a relaxed dude. He won’t be fooled or stressed out. He knows his media-thing and I think he’s straight and open. I never worked with him, but I can tell you he’s the real thing. And I like it that he’s a Feyenoord man. When we can keep injuries or silly infighting at bay, we’ll go far.”