Coaches in charge of renovations at top clubs

And I mean literally…

The influence of the coach gets more and more. Marco van Basten, Louis van Gaal and Gertjan Verbeek were also in charge of the actual renovations of their respective stadiums.

When Van Basten started as youth coach in Amsterdam, 5 years ago, he’d wander around in the dressing rooms, taking in all the great photos. At Ajax, all players who reached the Dutch team were photographed and placed on the wall. “Quite a lot of them,” he’d muse. First, he’d look straight into the eyes of Ge Fortgens, to move on to Johan Cruyff and the youthful face of Raf van der Vaart.

Great, he thought, but we could do better. Team manager David Endt: “I remember that Marco told me then, that he’d want photo’s of all the champion teams in the stadium as well. That would be good for Ajax’ reputation. Any opponent who’d have to walk past these pics on their way to the pitch would be 1-0 behind already.” And now Marco is head coach, those photo’s are already framed and hanging on the walls.

Van Basten made sure all dressing rooms are re-decorated. There is more room and the lockers are painted in red-white and carry the names of the player who uses the locker. The coaching room is changed – more real light allowed in – and Van Basten’s next plan is to change the trainings field.

Endt: “Marco has good taste for this stuff. I didn’t expect that from him… But it’s true, it’s important what you show. It impresses the opponent. We need photos that capture the soul of the club. We need photos of cheering players and players taking their opponent on. That’s what Ajax is.”

David Endt always takes notice of pictures in other stadiums. “At Heerenveen they have three wonderful pics of players in a certain action, but all three have their eyes closed! We would never frame those…”

Endt again: “In the old Ajax stadium De Meer we had pics of all Ajax players who reached the Oranje team. But Frank Arnesen complained that he, as Danish international, deserved a picture as well. And he was right. So, we changed that. Now, all Ajax internationals get their picture. We need a bigger stadium soon…”

Louis van Gaal does exactly the same at AZ, although he changes pictures before every game. “I always try to pick a photo with significance. For instance, if we play NEC, I’ll pick a picture of a game inwhich we beat them. That gives us a headstart and the NEC players are pulled back into that memory.”

David Endt worked with Van Gaal at Ajax. “He wants to be the Boss with a capital B. He was instrumental in making sure the new Ajax Arena would still remain a football stadium.”

The former Oranje team manager was also involved in the design of the new AZ Stadium. He oversaw the spaces assigned for the team, like the dressing-room, the gym and other rooms.

Gertjan Verbeek takes that a step further even. At Heracles Almelo, his first employer as head coach, he actually built the press room himself. Literally. He is talented as a carpenter, he did build his own home and when he started at Feyenoord he took the technical sketches home to study them. One of his focuses was the coaches’ room and the fitness center. The dressing room got enlarged times three. “Players need space. They all have their own rituals and little habits. A dressing room can’t be too big. I may want to discuss things during half time with some players, others need a physio but still want to be part of the group. Others want to let out some steam…”

But, the Dutch coaches won’t go as far as Jurgen Klinsmann in Germany. The new Bayern Munich coach spent 15 mio euros on the new training center (one could buy a decent midfielder for that sum). The new center now boasts a lounge, a library with the works of Goethe and Steiner among others, studyrooms and lots and lots of Buddha statues… Last but not least, the players’ wifes are all registered for special cooking lessons, so they can make responsible meals for their loving husbands.