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Once in Oranje: Berry van Galen

November 13th, 2008 | By: Jan | 17 Comments »

A new series (we also have Wondergoals and Dutch Masters): players who only played one international. This time: AZ icon Berry van Galen. Formerly of Haarlem, Roda JC, NAC Breda and AZ.

Oranje at 17 Bovember 2004. Arjen Robben, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Edwin van der Sar, Philip Cocu, Dirk Kuijt and André Ooijer, Giovanni van Bronckhorst, Danny Landzaat, Wesley Sneijder, Mario Melchiot and Barry van Galen.

In 1996, Berry van Galen is selected for an Oranje game for the first time. Oranje plays world champs Brazil, but Guus Hiddink keeps Van Galen on the bench the whole game.

Eight years later, the current AZ scout is in top form. The brilliant left footer steers AZ to top performances. The club plays in the top of the Eredivisie and is almost finalist for the UEFA cup under Co Adriaanse. Marco van Basten rewards the Haarlem-born player with a selection for the WC qualification match against Andorra. Van Galen is surprised. “I was 34 years then. You don’t really expect an invite anymore.”

Van Galen enjoys his second selection more than the first. “No one really knew me then. There I was, sharing the pitch with Dennis Bergkamp. In 2004 it was different, I guess I was someone by then.”

The training sessions and the tactical talks are a blur. “This was what I dreamt off. I didn’t realize I’d start even. I checked the benchsitters and I wasn’t on the list, so I figured I was on the stands. Mathijsen gave me a knock and said: hey oldie, you’re starting… I played with number 10 and was the man who kicked off. How cool was that?”

It was his only international and Van Galen isn’t satisfied. “Andorra did everything to stop us from scoring. They played like a handball team. There was no way through. I didn’t play too good. I wasn’t nervous or something, I just played horrible. Still, it’s the best game of my career.”

In the 21st minute, Cocu scores. “But it didn’t change the game. They kicked at everything that moved. A bunch of thugs. I remember Cocu having a really bad time with these guys.”

Ten minutes later, Arjen Robben scores a wonderful goal and the victory is there. Sneijder would score the 3-0 in the second half, but Van Galen is off the pitch by then. Pierre van Hooijdonk was put on as supersub to work on the score.

Van Galen was 34 years and 277 days old. The oldest debutant in Oranje. But Van Galen doesn’t feel special. “The record Van der Sar holds, that is special. That is something to be proud of. My record is more fun than anything else. Who knows, maybe in 30 years my name comes up at some random quiz show.”

Van Galen ended his career at AZ. The midfielder had numerous chances to move abroad to France and England, but it never felt right. He wouldn’t be able to settle abroad, he felt.

Tags: Adriaanse, Background stories, Robben, Sneijder, Van Basten, Van Galen

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Comments

By ghost of steve finnan | November 13th, 2008 at 11:01 am

Love these old stories and special features, Jan. Well, I guess this story isnt that old, but still…great stuff!

Posted from United States

By Caleb | November 13th, 2008 at 11:13 am

I agree, I always like learning extra little bits of history like this

Posted from Canada

By finnster01 | November 13th, 2008 at 5:52 pm

Good stuff.

Not that it means anything, but Galen means “the crazy one” in Norwegian…

By Andrew | November 13th, 2008 at 10:15 pm

More good stuff. Many thanks. OT: Just heard that RVN needs surgery on his knee; out for the year.

Posted from United States

By Carlos | November 13th, 2008 at 10:57 pm

Jan
Great reading again (*sigh) I actually watched that match and he did play terrible…poor guy…but I watched an AZ game where he was an absolute General!! I guess thats what makes the game so interesting.

Posted from Singapore

By Jason | November 14th, 2008 at 1:26 am

I like the fact that he stayed to play in Holland. He sounds like a pretty loyal player.

Posted from Canada

By Jan | November 14th, 2008 at 7:26 am

Interesting finn! You have something with names, eh? Well, Berry was crazy. Apart from being a genius with the left foot, he also was short-fused. He copped many a yellow and red and did some horrible things on the pitch. Tackles but mainly offending refs.

Weird chap. Very open and blunt, you either love him or hate him. Didn’t want anything to do with money or career or big moves. Just wanted to play football and be close to his mates.

By Alex | November 14th, 2008 at 10:32 am

Mulder, Loovens, Emanuelson, Bakkal and Amrabat were dropped from Oranje B, which if find very remarkable since Marcel Meeuwis, Paul Verhaegh, Kevin Hofland and Rob Wielaert are in.

Amrabat and Emanuelson were coming back from injury i thought, so that’s pretty normal if that’s the reason, but Loovens and Bakkal are fit, aren’t they? If they are I don’t know why Neeskens would drop them, I see more potential in guys like Bakkal and Loovens than Meeuwis, Hofland and Wielaert. When you think about it there are a lot of players that could be in Oranje B that aren’t now for injuries or something; Castelen, Luirink, Vlaar, Aissati, De Guzman, Lens but also Tiendalli, Kivuvu, Luijckx, Bodde, Kruiswijk, Kum, Pieters, Janmaat. I think tomorrow I’ll make me a list of possible Oranje B players

Btw I heard that Groningen central defender Gibril Sankoh could be getting his dutch passport pretty soon, and he might be interested in playing for the Netherlands.
I think he’s pretty good. Who knows, our defence might just be better than we could all imagine by 2010 with a list of established players and talents like Heitinga, Boulahrouz, Marcellis, Zuiverloon, Braafheid, Loovens, Donk, Sankoh, Bouma, Vlaar, Luirink, Emanuelson(still possible LWB), Pieters, Mathijsen, Tiendalli, Kruiswijk, V.d.Wiel, Verhaegh, El-Akchaoui, Luijcks etc. and if they all get injured De Cler, Gio, Kromkamp, Hofland or Ooijer might be options

Especially Zuiverloon seems to be making quite a development in PL.

Posted from Netherlands

By lowiesje | November 14th, 2008 at 11:14 am

Nice list, Alex… but you should Skip El-Akchaoui in that list. He plays officially for Marocco… I know, It’s confusing with those Dutch\Maroccan players.

Posted from Netherlands

By finnster01 | November 15th, 2008 at 8:18 am

Off topic:

Kuyt having another stormer of a game. Rocket shot off the crossbar followed a few mins later with a cracking goal on a powerful header. ‘Pool up by 1.

By Jan | November 16th, 2008 at 2:33 am

I saw that match. Dirk wasn’t as busy this time around (Keane did more work this time) but what a header that was. Gerrard and Keane missed two total sitters! Unbelievable…

By Miguel Rosado | November 16th, 2008 at 5:08 pm

Emanuelson played very good against PSV. He seems to be a player with balls and mentality, exactly what we lack in the national team.

By Carlos | November 16th, 2008 at 6:00 pm

Agree Miguel, watched it “live” and Ajax were passing the ball around very well and Urby seemed to be in everything and everywhere, always wanting the ball. Finally some good stuff from the fair weather boys !

Posted from Singapore

By Jan | November 16th, 2008 at 6:39 pm

I saw the match too! Suarez will be gone this summer, when he keeps playing like this! Emanuelson was strong and so was that little Enoh fella.

Check out http://eredivisie.theoffside.com for more on the Eredivisie action of this weekend….

By tiju | November 17th, 2008 at 2:32 am

MVB started his work PSv in 5th position in long term group stage MVB looks like a master.i think definitly some how ajax will win eridivise this year will continue in next year.
well come back to our diffencive issues
none of our current diffenders have courage except bula but he looks like an idot our diffenders lack confidence and courage and physical strengh isnt it so would like to see the step up of
Edson Brafeid
Wilfred Bauma-left backs
Gijs luirink
Ron vlaar
Dirk marcelis
Eric peiters/heitinga -Central diffenders
Dwight teindally
Gianni zuiverloon-Rightbacks
so in holding mid who are good there
ofcourse we need vanbommel not beacause of his talent and play but mentality we need.
so then De jong,schaars enough znijder will be the fourth option beacuase we need building from the back move brain to the holding mid
so called RVP and roban should be supersubs coz both of them dont have the stamina for 90 minutes
after considering the balence i woul like to see hardworking talents like de guzman,wijnaldum they are much better than kuyts

Posted from India

By tiju | November 17th, 2008 at 2:33 am

MVB started his work PSv in 5th position in long term group stage MVB looks like a master.i think definitly some how ajax will win eridivise this year will continue in next year.
well come back to our diffencive issues
none of our current diffenders have courage except bula but he looks like an idot our diffenders lack confidence and courage and physical strengh isnt it so would like to see the step up of
Edson Brafeid
Wilfred Bauma-left backs
Gijs luirink
Ron vlaar
Dirk marcelis
Eric peiters/heitinga -Central diffenders
Dwight teindally
Gianni zuiverloon-Rightbacks
so in holding mid who are good there
ofcourse we need vanbommel not beacause of his talent and play but mentality we need.
so then De jong,schaars enough znijder will be the fourth option beacuase we need building from the back move brain to the holding mid
so called RVP and roban should be supersubs coz both of them dont have the stamina for 90 minutes
after considering the balence i would like to see hardworking talents like de guzman,wijnaldum they are much better than kuyts

Posted from India

By bobotoh | November 17th, 2008 at 3:32 am

I saw the way Seedorf play for Milan (vs Chievo last night). I think he is more defensive now. He is more and more like Andrea Pirlo. In “normal” situation, he just distribute the ball to Kaka or Ronaldinho (or to the two wing backs). So, I think van Bommel and Seedorf can play together.

Posted from Indonesia