Huntelaar: canon with hunger for the title

The Hunter wants to score 35 competition goals this season, win the title and he wants to read a good book every now and then. No striker in Holland, or anywhere in the world, will be quoted saying that.

KLaas Jan is midway through “De Donkere Kamer van Damokles” when his third season at Ajax is ready to start. “In high school I only read the synopsis,” he explains with a smile.

We end up talking the booklist he worked through for high school, since at Ajax most people ask him what he’s reading in between training sessions. “My booklist was a short list with thin books, to be honest. But that was more because I didn’t have the time. I love reading. I like reading all sorts of books. It’s great to wind down and you learn a lot too.”

It intrigues me how someone like WF Hermans can evoke all those images using words. There is sone similarity with playing football I guess. He writes words and people love it. I kick the ball and people love it…”

Klaas Jan Huntelaar is a typical type of animal. He is also part time scout for Ajax. In the last months, he slipped two names to Marco van Basten. “I try to think along with my club. I watch a lot of football, like the Copa Libertadores. I saw two players who could really do well at Ajax and I tipped Van Basten. I did that at Heerenveen as well. One player was Guerron, a guy with a superb cross, But he was signed for Getafe, so I can name his name now. The other player I won’t mention now.”

Is Klaas Jan frustrated that the international scouts ignored him? “Frustrated? Nah… It doesn’t feel like that at all. You’ll get frustrated when you’re close to a deal and then it doesn’t happen, you know? There were some contacts, but I only want to leave Ajax for an absolute top club. Nothing less. And yes, Real Madrid, that would be one of them. Anyone would want to play for Madrid, but I’m not doing one of those inbetween-steps to a sub top European team. Why would I?”

In the media, he read the criticism on his play against Russia. The experts were all convinced that a move to a stronger competition would benefit Huntelaar. The Van Nistelrooy successor has to learn to go to the limit.

“I do notice of course, that against Russia or similar opponents it’s harder than against, say, FC Utrecht but a move to some other competition isn’t sacred. I played against Sunderland and Newcastle United with Ajax and Heerenveen but I wasn’t too impressed with their level. It’s not Arsenal – Chelsea in the EPL every week you know?”.

“I know myself. I’m very ambitious. I wouldn’t want to play for a mid-tier team in Spain or England. And I have to play in or around the box. I love the sport too much to go for a bigger club, make more money but not win prizes or play great football. I want the peaks and the troughs and I can have that with Ajaz, the top of Holland.”

Talking about peaks and troughs. This season will be do or die for Ajax. Never before did Ajax pay as much (30 million euros) for new signings as this summer. Since 2004, PSV won the title and Ajax wants to break their spell. “This season can be orgasmic. When we win the title, it won’t be “another title” for us. It will be the first in 5 years, that’s quite a difference.”

Thus, his 35 goals objective. “One goal per match. Should be feasible. But, I would be happy to score less, as long as we win the title.”

He also wants to win the UEFA Cup. “And why not? I also want to score in Den Haag and in Volendam. Those are the only two stadiums in the Eredivisie I never scored.”

Klaas Jan thinks his new boss did some good buying. “We signed some exciting players, but that’s not it. We need to be able to gel these players into the team.”

Huntelaar looks back at his first six months at Ajax. “I came in the winter from Heerenveen. Ajax wasn’t doing too good. Lots of criticism. Danny Blind was manager and there was a lot of debate on his future with the club. We managed somehow to pull together and we did so well in the second half of the competition. We won basically everything and came from a desperate position to the play offs, winning the CL qualification ticket and the national cup.”

The Hunter is Van Basten’s news skipper and is responsible for helping the team building process along. People Klaas Jan worked with in the past call him a leader. Energetic, sincere and responsible. “I love working on something big and I will take responsibility. If people don’t abide by the rules, it can annoy me shitless and I will open my mouth. I don’t like powerplay though and I won’t abuse my position. I don’t think you should talk too much in football. You have to show it on the pitch.”

He liked Edwin van der Sar, as the Oranje captain. “He is a great human being, cery correct in his interactions and very involved with other players. Paul Bosvelt at Heerenveen was similar. They were born captains.”

He knows he won’t be alone. “I think Gabri and Oleguer, with their experience, will be able to lead. Stekelenburg has it too, and Rasmus Lindgren.”

Although he is one of Holland’s superstars at the moment, all the fame and glamour is alien to Huntelaar. “I will never get used to that. Suddenly, strangers start filming me on their mobile phones. What is that? That famous-people game is nothing for me.”

Ajax’ team manager David Endt compares Huntelaar with Dennis Bergkamp. “Klaas Jan is a sweet, funny and sharp kid. He hasn’t changed, although he has a sort of tough layer of varnish over that personality. Dennis had that as well.”
“I won’t avoid public places, like the cinema, but I don’t enjoy the attention. I do like to visit the sports fishing show every year (Visma). I like to meet people from all walks of life. I recently spoke to an entrepreneur. I love that. Someone who built a company from the ground up. I like to read about that too. The Visma is always in Rotterdam and it’s fun to get all those remarks from sports fishers from Rotterdam.”

“I haven’t won any real prizes with Ajax. PSV has been stronger, but it’s more their consistency than anything else. They don’t play very attractive or score a lot of goals. But, they know how to stop you from scoring. PSV is still the title favorite, I guess. They play some sort of counter football. They allow the opponent to make the play and when you lose possession, they quickly overturn you. That’s a great weapon and all, but it is absolutely easier to play like that than the way Ajax wants to play. We play possession football and when we lose the ball, we immediately have to go 30 meters back in full sprint. Takes more energy.”

Huntelaar is curious about Feyenoord this season. “I have worked with Verbeek and I know how good he is. He can gel a team in no time. I expect something from Feyenoord, although I do feel Verbeek’s fanatic approach is not for everyone. But we had a great relationship. He made me stronger. I’m surprised that a lot of Feyenoord players are injured. His training sessions are tough, but the prep we did at Ajax this season was tougher than ever.”