Willem: weird how people revere me…

Willem’s column on the www.ad.nl site.

Not a lot of people will have missed the fact that last week this 3,5 kilogram think book has been published on my life. As I understood it, the first print was sold out in a day.

To be honest, I find it tought to be proud of the book. To be proud of myself, is something that doesn’t fit me. I was an ok player and I think I did ok as a coach, but I did all those things with the talent God gave me. I didn’t have to do a lot for that. I mean, saving someone else’s life, that is something to be proud of. My dad did that. That makes me proud of him. But to be proud of being a good football player…sorry, I can’t feel that.

I wasn’t able to say anything in public last Thursday, when the book was presented. I am sorry about that. I could do it and there was time for it, etc, but I just couldn’t. I was too emotional after hearing all those old stories, and seeing all those familiar faces again. I couldn’t get up and be all in control and do my speech. So, I decided to say nothing.

I personally think, the success of the book is partly the fact that people like to watch those old pictures… My book is filled with it. And it’s fun to watch them… And, my life story has parallels with the success stories of Feyenoord, Ajax and Oranje in those years. And right after I retired, Oranje won the 1988 EC title. That’s why my career is synonymous with Dutch successes and cool photo’s.

Last Sunday, I was coaching again. Utrecht versus AZ. We weren’t good enough to snatch a point, although it was close. We find it hard to have a good day all at the same time. That’s what we’re working on. And that is just great to do. That’s my job. And I love my job, but I am not proud. That would be silly. But I am happy, when I am on the field. And sharing happiness is what it’s about, so I am happy with my book and with my job here at FC Utrecht.

Thank you all!