In 2004, he did. He gave a jolt of lightning to the nation and famously, it was coach Advocaat who ended that energy burst by subbing him too early…

Let’s revisit 2004 in our prep for 2012…

You’re only as good as your last game, record, movie, book, joke…whatever. It applies to all trades. Teachers, stock-brokers, investors, wine-experts and football federations.

When Louis van Gaal, The Louis van Gaal (the best of the world one, the golden boy from Ajax and Barca) failed to qualify for the WC2002, the KNVB was in shambles.

They gambled their reputation, finances and future on a big mouthed, arrogant, non-compromising dominant “success coach” who not only had the intention to make Oranje World Champs but in the meantime set out to change the way the whole nation coached and trained.

We all know how that ended. Louis was a joke! As much as I admire him as a club coach and as much as I like the man personally ( I met him, you know, and he’s a good egg….).

Louis was a joke, because 1) he had a tremendous group of players, 2) he had the qualification in the pocket, leading against Portugal away 0-2 and 3) he gave it away by attempting to crush the Portuguese and bring two extra strikers with 10 minutes to go… We all know what happened: we forgot to defend and after 90 minutes our friends came back to 2-2. Game over!

And then I’m not even mentioning his brilliant move to put Reiziger in as left back against Portugal at home…

Tactical blunders by the biggest tactical brain we had in that job for a long time… His press conferences were even better. It went from: “I have changed. I won’t be insulting journalists anymore. I understand exactly what the KNVB needs and I can do it.”…

To: “SO YOU’RE ALL HAPPY I HOPE? WE DID”T QUALIFY??? SO YOU CAN WRITE WHAT A DUMBASS I AM? IT IS ALL YOUR FAULT!!!!!”

The KNVB was in shock. What to do? We tried it with a dominant “winner” (after never having had the cojones to appoint JC) and now what? We can’t ask Co Adriaanse. He is as dominant, non-compromising and confronting as Louis…. We don’t think Willem van Hanegem will play the game with us either…. One of the young blokes? Koeman….Gullit… To big a risk… Martin Jol? Nah…too fat…

Well, there’s always good ol’ Dick. Advocaat. He did it before. He won’t win titles for us, but at least he’ll go middle of the road. He won’t rock the boat. He won’t stir things up at the office in Zeist. People will feel save with him. The Jan Peter Balkenende of Dutch Football…

When Dick was appointed, fans, media, experts and even players frowned their heads. Him? Didn’t he take us into the last 16 in the WC1994 and tried to tell us all that that was a great result?

Isn’t he the guy who’d rather bring an extra defender? Isn’t he the one who’d rather not lose instead of rather win?

The KNVB reacted immediately. They decided to win the hearts back of the nation by selecting a people’s hero as Dick’s assistant team manager: Willem van Hanegem. De Kromme looks back on his decision to say “yes” as a mistake. He now realizes he was used to silence the crowds. In the beginning, Dickie told everyone that “Willem and I will do this jointly”… Not much later, in the run up of the actual EC, Willem was banned from doing press and found himself relegated to carrying the balls onto the training pitch. He recalls: “I was ready to call it a day, but I didn’t want to let the group down. I had the chance to work with the best of the best and spending time with Van Nistelrooy, Cocu and Seedorf on the training pitch was a joy. I decided to make the best of it.”

Advocaat was getting himself in several pickles. He’d promised Seedorf a starting position. During the preparation however, Clarence realized he was being played. Willem van Hanegem: “I spent quite some time talking to Seedorf. I could empathize with him. I told him he shouldn’t demand a spot with his words. He’d have to show Advocaat on the trainings.”

Advocaat also took some youngsters along, the likes of Van der Vaart and Robben. The latter, no big surprises here, was injured going into the preparation. Still, it became clear that Dickie hedged his bets on the experienced players. Even Patrick Kluivert was part of the group.

The fans and most of the expert analists saw the problems coming. The choices Advocaat made were predictable. Willem’s role was unclear. And Dick Advocaat’s press-conferences brought back memories of Louis van Gaal. Everytime a critical question was asked, Advocaat would hide behind the backs of others. On one occasion, Oranje conceded a goal from a corner kick. When questioned about it after the game, this is what went down…

Interviewer: “Dick, we conceded a goal from a corner. And yet we knew they were dangerous from set-pieces.”

Dick: “Hey, I know. I told the group many times before the game that they were dangerous from corner kicks, so you can’t blame me!’

Interviewer: “I am not blaming you nor anyone else… I’m just saying…”

Oranje played Germany in the first group match. And we played well. But didn’t win. 1-1 was the endresult and the Czech Republic was the second opponent. Advocaat needed Robben. And used Robben. And the rest is history.

Holland – Czech Republic would go down in history as one of the finest matches played on any EC.
The Dutch played good football, and so did the Czech Republic, led by Pavel Nedved.

Thanks to Arjen Robben, Oranje led 2-0 to lose 2-3 when Dick Advocaat decided to sub our best man, Robben, for defensive midfielder Paul Bosvelt. Bosvelt, a capable consistent player, but also in the autumn of his career, was also tasked with marking Nedved.

Advocaat’s decision baffled everyone. The fans. The media. The analists. And even the players. And assistant coach Willem van Hanegem and not in the least: Robben himself.

Holland needed a win against Lithuania and needed to hope for a good result of the Czech against Germany.

Oranje would beat Lithuania (3-0, twice Van Gol and Makaay) and a second-rate Czech team beat Germany.

Holland was through and would write history against Sweden! For the first time in decades, Oranje won the penalty-series against the tough Swedes. Arjen Robben scored the winner.

Oranje and Advocaat were through to the semis and Dickie thought the fans would forgive him his Robben replacement. They didn’t.

Holland went mad. Led by the media and some expert analysts it appeared some mob would want to lynch the team manager when Oranje returned to Holland. There were even questions asked about it in the house and the Dutch prime minister had to intervene to calm everyone down …

Willem van Hanegem later admitted that he was shocked when Dickie ordered Robben’s jersey number to come off. “I made a mistake there. The minute I saw what he was doing I should have knocked him unconscious…”.

Advocaat stepped down right after the EC, totally distraught with the unfair manner in which he was manhandled by the media and supporters.

TV analist Jan Mulder heavily criticising Advocaat and demanding his scalp…

“Jose Mourinho understood my replacement of Robben,” Dick Advocaat whines, four years after the infamous tactical move of the Dutch team manager in the EC2004.

“I still support that replacement, although in hindsight it didn’t pan out too good. But, some coaches – among others Mourinho – understood this chance perfectly. But, everybody has it’s own opinion.

That’s football. We were kicked out of the tournament later and everybody criticized me for that Robben exchange. The whole nation was upset. I took Robben off simply because he hadn’t played for three months.”

Advocaat also explains about his relationship with Willem van Hanegem, who was Advocaat’s assistant a the EC. “The working relationship with Willem could have been better. I admit. And that was also my fault. But, you know, you can’t win against Willem. The whole nation loves him. I think we were a very good combination, but he felt he was only picked for the job to entertain the masses. I think if our cooperation would have gone well, we’d still be in charge. Actually, Willem and myself would be ideal as team managers. But, it wasn’t to be.”

The rest is history of course. Top dog Van Gaal had failed, old-school old-hand Dick Advocaat screwed up…what to do? Rijkaard wasn’t available, so the KNVB quickly smooched with Johan Cruyff who pushed his apprentices Bassie and Schippie. And the rest is history.

In 2006 we won the world title, with a Seedorf on fire and in 2008 we even won the EC, pushed forward by Mark van Bommel.

No people, it’s still 24 days to go. You didn’t oversleep. You haven’t missed a thing.

This is about the Under17s. The third time (!) in four years (!) that Alfred Stuivenberg and his team reaches the end game. And the opponent, again, is Germany.

And the players that won the title last year against Germany have developed tremendously. Kids like Tonny Vilhena, Terence Kongolo, Anass Achahbar (all Feyenoord), Jetro Willems and Memphis Depay (both PSV) made their debuts in the Eredivisie already.

Stuivenberg: “It’s clear that we’re doing something really well. This group is very talented yet again.”

And Germany is the opponent again. Coincidence? “No, not really. Their youth development is really good too and they have simply more players to pick from. They have more money to spend too and they really put out to prepare well. I’m a bit envious. They have 21 people in their support staff. They have their own bus, their own chef and their playing style and philosophy comes closer and closer to ours. And they have tremendous talents!”.

17 year old super prospect Tonny Trindade de Vilhena (17) had a big year. The media had really discovered him when he made his sensational debut for Feyenoord this season.

Last summer, you won the European title, you played the World Cup in Mexico, then you had your debut in Feyenoord and now this finals. What a year…

“Yes, it’s been quite incredible. My career is basically this straight line to the top. I do realise than and I’m enjoying every minute of it.”

As a result of this tournament, you couldn’t play the key game for Feyenoord against Heerenveen nor be present at the celebrations later.

“Yes, that was tough. But hey, I can’t be at two places at the same time. This tournament is very important for me.”

And now against Germany…

“Yes, we won’t have any motivational issues for that one. But they’re a very good team. We will need to be top! It will be a tight game and I’m sure they are also looking at us and going “oh no, not them again…”.

And after this tournament, a new deal with Feyenoord?

“That is right, Feyenoord wants to extend my deal. We’re still talking but I think we’ll sort it out soon. I need a short break to get the battery going again and then I’m looking forward to next season with Feyenoord.”

And today or tomorrow ( depending on where you are) Bert will send a number of players home to bring his 36 players prelim squad back to 27 players…

In the meantime, the AD sport department has crawled into Johan Cruyff’s head and came up with the typical starting eleven Cruyff would pick. Based on his “if you have the ball they can’t score” and his “if your best players are attackers you need to play attacking football” philosophy.

Johan follows yours truly ( thank you, thank you) in putting Mark van Bommel in as the libero, playing in front of his three men defensive line. JC picks Urby Emanuelson as the left full back. “He’s experienced, he plays in a tough competition, he can focus on defending but more importantly, he will force the player on the opponent’s right, to defend…”

JC obviously picks Everton’s Man of the Season Heitinga as the central man marker Wim Rijsbergen style and Greg van der Wiel gets the nod as right back. Makes sense. We don’t have anyone getting close to being better and Greg is an Ajax developed player…

In midfield, no additional holding players. Three capable and creative lads: our Iniesta/Xavi ( Sneijder/Van der Vaart) and Barca player Afellay. Upfront, JC would play the three best forwards we have: Robben, Robin and Hunter.

Kuyt? He is allowed to come along but won’t start, in JC’s line up.

When asked what his opinion was on the fact that Holland has so many great attacking players… “Problem? Why is it a problem? As a coach, it’s your job to make sure you find a system to play them al! It’s a shame to bench Huntelaar or Van Persie….”

Also, Bert’s support staff has more names than the players’ list… Bert is allowed 23 players but takes 26 people to take care of the fringe tasks…

Bert van Marwijk leads the team and has three assistant coaches, one striker and one keeper trainer. Three physios and three massage therapeuts, three material managers, three chefs, a security manager and the team manager Hans Jorritsma. Than there is Kees Jansma, the press officer and his two colleagues…

27 days to go my friends!!! Let’s warm up ….

After Hollands WC1994 disappointment (only Advocaat was happy), Guus took over. He wasn’t Golden Gus or God back then. He had to prove himself, and although he would shine in 1998, 2002 and 2006 this was not his finest hour.

He inherited the friction between the white and black boys from Amsterdam. The so-called “kabel” (chain) (Kluivert, Bogarde, Reiziger, Davids, Seedorf) wanted respect. Assistant Rijkaard did what he could but Hiddink couldn’t get this team to swing it’s way into the semi finals.

And although this rift may have been exaggerated by the media, and the players today all act a bit taciturn about it, it is a known fact that in those days, the KNVB did not take any nutritional differences into account for the squad. In other words, the lads from Suriname craved Suriname food but were forced to eat potatoes, mince meat and pork chops instead of rice, roti and Saoto soup.

10 juni 1996 Oranje – Scotland 0 – 0

Without the injured Frank de Boer and the suspended Danny Blind Oranje started the EC in Birmingham with Edgar Davids and Johan de Kock as central duo. Oranje expected Scotland to be an ideal starting opponent, to play themselves nicely into the tournament, but the Scots didn’t budge: 0-0. Oranje did dominate and Seedorf and Bergkamp had chances to score in the first half. In the second half, winger Jordy Cruyff was fouled in the box (without repercussions) and Seedorf had another late opportunity but forgot to deliver. Sub Aron Winters’ header was cleared from the line and another youngster – Patrick Kluivert – got a chance replacing Gaston Taument but it wasn’t to be.

13 juni 1996 Oranje – Switzerland 2 – 0

Oranje’s second game needed to be won. Manager Hiddink sacrificed Davids, De Kock and Taument for Blind, Aron Winter and Peter Hoekstra. Clarence Seedorf is subbed after 26 minutes, right after he escaped receiving a second yellow. The Swiss would get the first chance of the match, when Reiziger passed back on Sar who couldn’t control the ball, which narrowly missed Oranje’s goal.
The Seedorf/De Kock exchange worked out well. Blind could move into midfield more often and claimed domination. After an hour of play, it was Jordi Cruyff who scored after a deflected corner. His first goal for Oranje. With that score line the Swiss took more risks and a long kick by Sar ended up in Bergkamp’s stride who scored the 2-0. Oranje was happy and relieved. After this match, Edgar Davids couldn’t control himself and made the infamous remark: “Hiddink should remove his head from Frank de Boer and Danny Blind’s out of his arses!”.

14 juni 1996 Edgar Davids removed from squad

This was Davids’ last day at the EC. Hiddink and Davids had a personal talk after the pitbull’s remarks, but he refused to take it back.

18 juni 1996 Holland – England 1 – 4
Oranje had to qualify for the quarter-finals. But Oranje was totally played off the pitch by the English and after 60 minutes of play the score was 0-4. Scotland was up against Switzerland and Oranje was virtually out. After 7 minutes of play Rob Witschge had to clear a Shearer shot off the line. 15 Minutes later Blind caused a penalty, tripping Paul Ince. Shearer converted 0-1. Dennis Bergkamp missed a chance, Seedorf had a good shooting opportunity but Oranje missed spice and effectivity. Sheringham scored twice and Shearer scored the fourth English goal. Kluivert came onto the pitch and he scored a late goal from a difficult angle, allowing Oranje to move onto the next stages. The Scots only scored once against Switzerland and the goal difference was in Holland’s favour.

22 juni 1996 Holland – France 0 – 0

Was it smart to allow Seedorf to take a penalty? Clarence Seedorf is ambitious and was keen to show the world he was a big player. Seedorf was benched against the French, like Aron Winter and Peter Hoekstra. Phillip Cocu finally got his starting position, as did Johan de Kock and Patrick Kluivert, the man whose goal got Oranje here in the first place.
The French played like cowards. Holland wasn’t doing too well this tournament and the French, with their qualities on board, could have crushed Oranje. But they decided to allow the initiative to the Dutch. Kluivert didn’t have a lot of luck, and Ronald de Boer and Dennis Bergkamp missed some obvious opportunities. Cocu hits the outside of the post and Desailly handled the ball with his hands in the box but the ref didn’t spot it.
Sub Seedorf had the biggest opportunity of the game but missed abysmally. Penalty kicks. Zidane, Djorkaeff, Lizarazu, Guerin and Blanc score. For Oranje Blind, De Kock, De Boer and Kluivert score, but Seedorf misses his. France moves on to play the Czechs in the semis.

Danny Blind quits his international career and it would take almost two years for Davids to return. From all angles, a disappointing tournament for Oranje.

Vitesse is on its way back to the Dutch (sub)top, under the management and guidance of John van den Brom. And 22 year old Alexander Buttner, a product of the Ajax youth development, is one of the key players in that new team. He had his wanderings in the team, played on many different positions but he found his spot: left back. And as a result of Erik Pieters’ injury, he might even get into the starting line up of Holland’s finest.

We introduce Alexander Buttner. A special kid.

Buttner, the left back

“I made my debut under Aad de Mos, here at Vitesse. I was 17 years old. Sat down on the bench in a game against Twente and after three minutes he made me warm up and brought me on the left back spot. What a weird substitution. He did it again a week later. The media were all over him, haha and I made something of a name as I got yellow carded twice in my first game. It was weird for me to play left back, as I was a forward. I only played there once before. In the Ajax youth, I played playmaker and at Vitesse as left winger or left midfielder. I never wanted to be a left back. I think most left backs started as wingers or midfielders. Look at Bogarde, Van Bronckhorst, Numan… They started as creative players but found their spot. Most scouts don’t look at defenders in the youth, do they? They’re always focused on creative players… But I started to like the spot. I’m now 22 years old and have 90 Eredivisie games behind my name and half of those as left back. John van den Brom is responsible for this. He clearly sees it in me. As a former winger, I think i can take that experience with me into the game. I know how to make them feel there is nothing going for them when they play against me…. And as a former winger, I love moving up and engaging in the attack. I had several wingers talking to me on the pitch… “Are you going forward again??”. Most wingers hate running after a full back. I gain confidence every week… I played against the best wingers in the Eredivisie and none of them played me off the pitch. On the contrary, I owned them all….”

Buttner, the lad from the streets

“My biggest strength? I never give up. I was born in a suburb in Doetinchem, called the Camp. My grandparents lived in a camp you know, like a trailer camp and the Romas? There is a different culture there. I’m sorry I never lived in one of the trailers. The vibe apparently was really cool. I was a real street urchin. A little rat. I was always playing football on the streets and it was a tough education, I can tell you. I was pretty good so I was invited to play with the older kids but they didn’t spare me… The trailer camps have a bad reputation in Holland. People think everybody grows weed there but it’s not true. Most camps don’t like to do any illegal and if something happens, it’s taken care of within the clan. We take care of our own problems, but we also defend and support each other. That loyalty is key. I am a trailer camp kid, and I’m proud of it.”

Buttner, an Ajax kid

“When I was 10 years old, basically all the clubs in Holland wanted me. The top clubs and Vitesse… Ajax was my favorite. Partly because they do have the best youth development system. They wanted me so badly, they offered my parents a house in Amsterdam, so we could build a new life there. But my parents refused. Because of that, my youth was spent on the highway. We left home at 6 am to drive to Amersfoort. That was where my school was. I’d travel by train to Amsterdam to train. Then I’d do some homework at the club and my dad would pick me up again at 7. We would normally be home and in bed around 11 pm. And the next morning, at 6 am, we were in the car. My youth was Ajax, Ajax, Ajax. And my dear dad drove 1000s of kilometers for me. Without him, I would never have been a pro. But the trips weren’t that nice, as my dad was extremely critical. Nothing was ever good. I could play the best games and score three times, he’d constantly tell me what I did wrong. I sometimes hated that. But other kids had parents who would tell them how wonderful they were and most of these kids didn’t make it… I played in all the teams until my 16th birthday. I usually played in older teams as Ajax wanted me to gain more power. And when I turned 16, Ajax wanted to put me in a host family in Amsterdam, so I could focus even more on Ajax… I heard stories from other kids at Ajax about how boring that life was, so I didn’t want to do it. I knew that if I was really good, I would get my chance. Feyenoord and PSV immediately came into view, but I would have similar problems with traveling. So I decided to go to Vitesse. And a year later, I made my debut… But sometimes I look at my old team mates, Vurnon Anita and Toby Alderweireld and see them play against Real Madrid and Manchester United… And I think “I could have been in that team….”. But, my time will come.”

Buttner, the professional

“My dad being so critical is because he played pro football for De Graafschap, FC Twente, Vitesse and NEC. According to people who worked with him, he was a huge talent but he never made it big. He was a bon vivant. Never really lived for the sport. Loved a beer, loved a party. I heard stories how he turned his car around whenever he came into a traffic jam. Then he simply decided that he wouldn’t train that day. Guus Hiddink remembers him too and whenever I see Hiddink, he always says with a smile: “Don’t go the same path as your dad!”… And I won’t. I don’t drink, I live for football. Another big name coach I learned a lot from is Aad de Mos. He talked with me one on one and once said: If you play your cards right, you can become a really big player… That was fantastic… I could make a jump last summer but I decided to stay at Vitesse. I still live with my mum but this coming season, I will live together with my girl friend. I have no haste. My career won’t run away from me…”

Buttner, and his holiday plans this summer

“Oranje is a huge ambition, for sure. Every player sees that as the top. And I know that there aren’t too many great left backs, so yeah… The players at Vitesse joked about in recent months. “Don’t book a holiday” they all said. But we’ll see. As I said earlier, I am in no hurry. I’ll take every day as it comes.”

Alexander Buttner with Vitesse coach John van den Brom

The Dutch competition has ended ( most decisions in Europe are in, except for the big ones in the English Premier League).

And what a competition it was! The quality of the football was clearly up and the tension was back too!

Plus, we have seen a new generation of coaches stand up and implement the 4-3-3 as if there was no tomorrow…

Let’s start with the new Champs. Ajax got their 31st title in the Eredivisie and deservedly so.

Frank de Boer, he got the job in last season after having done a stint as youth coach at Ajax and having support Bert van Marwijk at Oranje, and he turned out to be the real deal. The former central defender stayed calm in one of the most tempestuous seasons Ajax ever had. With lots of backstabbing, politics, power-struggles and well publicised bullshit around him, the former Ajax and Barca man kept his cool and kept focusing on the game. One aspect in Ajax’ season was a bit troublesome: the pletoria of muscle related injuries. According to the experts, this means players are overworked ( training) and is the sign of an inexperienced coach. Might be the case. Although the two biggest injuries of the season ( Sigthorsson’s and Boerrigter’s ) were inherited from their former clubs.

Derk Boerrigter is an interesting character. Was developed at Ajax and (like Lens, Narsigh, Elia and many others) sent away. Boerrigter was seen as too weak, too vulnerable. The youngster got a growth spurt and developed well at RKC and as a real left winger caught the eye of Ajax again and was able to blend in without a problem once he returned. After returning from his injury, he scored three goals in two games.

Derk Boerrigter

Some people feel Derk is Oranje material. I’m not sure. He might be, but he’s a typical counter forward. Like Peter Hoekstra in the past, he needs space to operate in, as he doesn’t have the trickery of a Robben or Elia or John to take on players in confined spaces. But, Boerrigter is fast, has a good shot and is a good header of the ball. His history of back injuries is a worry though.

Another player that did ever so well, is Vurnon Anita. The little midfielder made his debut many seasons back and was used at all spots bar goal keeper. As a result, in true Aron Winter style, Anita became the ideal 12th man but no one knew what his real spot was. Well, this season, everyone found out. Vurnon Anita is the perfect holding midfielder. He’s gifted in possession, reads the game extremely well, is happy to sacrifice himself and doesn’t need glory, can combine and score and has grit in the duels. Only problem? Anita is not a great header of the ball. And his name is Anita… Johnny Cash would write a song for him….

It’s interesting that Frank de Boer got Anita to play holding midfielder because his first choice Enoh got injured. It was a bit of a lucky accident. Enoh is not that good. He collects yellows and reds like stamps and walks too much with the ball, most of the times walking into space and clogging things up. Vertonghen couldn’t make his runs and Janssen got stuck in the mess. With Anita, it seemed easier for others to excel.

Christian Eriksen was a mainstay for Ajax and so was Theo Janssen. The tattooed one was heavily criticised but the former Vitesse and Twente man wasn’t used too well. In his forward midfield position, Janssen’s passing is tremendous. Another player deserving a mention is Belgium defender Jan Vertonghen. On his way out, no doubt. I heard even Barcelona is interested in him and he might be the right man for the job to replace Puyol… Vertonghen is fast, good and tough defender, good header, strong personality, reads the game well and he can score! Sad he’s born in Belgium .

Vurnon Anita for the U21s against Englands Wilshere

Other than those special mentions, Frank used a lot of youngsters from the youth teams to fill in for the injured players. And most if not all of them impressed. Winning the title against favorite PSV ( who invested heavily in a new team) is definitely worth a compliment!

Frank de Boer, in my book, is a top coach to be, with a future at Barcelona and most certainly with Oranje.

Ronald Koeman, another former top defender for Ajax, Barca and Oranje, had a troublesome coaching career. Issues at Vitesse where he started, because the club imploded. At Ajax, he lost face by trying to outmuscle Louis van Gaal and battling with Sneijder and Van der Vaart. At Benfica he did ok, at PSV he jumped ship ( or rather a fast train, as he called it) and he totally flunked at Valencia. At AZ they didn’t want him around after only a short while, and all this time, snow flake was dreaming about coaching Barca and Oranje….

But Ronald’s wife illness changed the former Europa Cup 1 winner. He became more humble. And another iconic name in Dutch football – Feyenoord – was in need of a second chance. Koeman took the job and got the youngsters into shape and believing in themselves. And despite losing Wijnaldum, Fer and Castaignos the Kuip club snatched the second spot this year. Using Koeman’s smarts and Martin van Geel’s deals ( Guidetti on loan, Bakkal on loan), Feyenoord got up and with new leaders in midfield ( Jordy Clasie and the returned El Ahmadi) they impressed.

Ron Vlaar, skipper and defense leader regained his composure and was Feyenoord’s rock. Clasie and El Ahmadi operated as Feyenoord’s Xavi/Iniesta while Bakkal penetrated and scored like in his best days at PSV. Man City loanie John Guidetti might have make the difference. He did on the pitch, with 20 goals and key hattricks, but most definitely off the pitch too. Already early in the season, the 20 year old yahoo convinced his team mates (and the coaching staff maybe?) that Feyenoord was able to compete for the title. “Why not?”, is what he said. And with exciting young talents as De Vrij, Martins Indi and Leerdam making impressions, Koeman and co. made it to the second spot, beating PSV, Twente, Ajax, AZ, and Heerenveen at home.

Jordie Clasie, the Paul Scholes of Feyenoord

I believe Jordy Clasie will most likely be Oranje material in the coming years. He’s 20 years old now and one season does not yet make an Oranje midfielder, but he’s got the goods, for sure. Reminds me of a more defensive Sneijder. Paul Scholes, comes to mind. Stefan de Vrij and Kelvin Leerdam will be wearing Oranje too, and if El Ahmadi hadn’t opted for Morocco, who knows…..?

PSV was the title fave for many. Fred Rutten had one more year to go and with all the investments that were done ( Matavz, Strootman, Mertens, Wijnaldum, Lens) many felt PSV was ready to harvest. The first season’s half looked promising but in the second season half, things went awry, with Rutten leaving the club and the team playing hot and cold games one week to another.

Phillip Cocu became the caretaker manager but quickly announced he was not a candidate for the job next season. Now PSV resorts to making that typical mistake ( Guus Hiddink anyone?) by getting an old hand back. Dick Advocaat ( who like Koeman jumped on a money train earlier to go to Glasgow) will be presented soon as the new coach. Obviously, Mark van Bommel will most likely be presented too and he will boss midfield with Kevin Strootman.

The latter had an ok season with PSV. Erik Pieters (injured for most of the second season’s half) played strong as left back and Jeremain Lens was impressive as center striker in the last months. Other than that, Jethro Willems got the attention as right full back, but Willems is very young still. Gio Wijnaldum has the goods but played too inconsistently and had some great games and some horrific games. His tactical discipline is lacking and his defensive thinking sometimes simply not there.

Gertjan Verbeek

Other remarkable teams, coaches and players… Tough guy Gertjan Verbeek learned from his mistakes at Feyenoord and had a sensational season with AZ, almost winning the title this year. Just started to lose it before the finish line. And Verbeek’s AZ played tremendous football. As Cruyff said: the most “Dutch” of all. With wingers ( Holman, on his way to Aston Villa and Beerens (ex PSV)) and a very creative midfield with Maarten Martens and young talent of the year Adam Maher, Verbeek played clean, attractive and fast football. Ajax in particular is looking at signing full back Poulsen and center back Moisander while everyone wants to sign Adam Maher.

The 18 year old technically could still decide to play for Morocco, although Van Marwijk already had him in his web earlier in the year. Beerens is another player that almost had a look in in Oranje and Verbeek introduced some defensive players ( Viergever for instance) that could well make it into the Dutch pride.

Former Groningen winger Ron Jans did very well with Heerenveen. One of the best managed clubs in Holland with a shrewd scouting department. Jans had some difficulties with Bas Dost in his first season at the club, but this season it all clicked. With Narsingh and Assaidi on the wings and a strong midfield, Dost became the Dutch topscorer and might well have earned himself a ticket to the EC with Oranje.

Heerenveen coach Ron Jans

Luciano Narsingh ( high on Frank de Boer’s list) will be on the prelim list for Bert as well (Assaidi chose Morocco) and Darryl Janmaat, the full back, might be a future defender for Oranje as he is making his way to Feyenoord next season.

Ron Jans is leaving the club – making way for the charismatic Marco van Basten – but will most likely show up somewhere soon to further his impressive career.

FC Twente was the last in line. The former champs had a PSV-like season. Co Adriaanse was signed as new coach and everyone knows what that means. But the Twente chair was asleep for the last 20 years and acted surprised when he found out Co was cocky, headstrong, dominant and a loner. So he decided to ditch Adriaanse (who left the country disgusted without giving one single interview) and re-instated his buddy McClaren. I’ve nothing against Umbrella Steve, but I don’t like this opportunistic behavior and Twente appeared to have too many cubs and not enough lions. Players like Chadli and Bahrami are seriously talented but lack the winners’ mentality. Positive points are Ola John, who plays like a seasoned winger. Tremendously gifted. Scores easily, isn’t egocentric ( Robben!!) and has a great Van ‘t Schip-like cross. Another one would be Luuk de Jong. Wonderful header of the ball. A typical killer, who plays well in big games. And much better with his feet than you’d imagine.

Leroy Fer had his moments, but seems to be asleep too often. Needs to make the next step up. Douglas is a good defender, of course, but I’m not sure if we need him in Oranje. Prone to mistakes. Sometimes really silly ones. And would he play instead of Heitinga? Who is probably one of Everton’s best? No thanks.

So, all in all, a great season and wonderful to see how many young coaches made an impression…

Apart from the ones mentioned, we saw former winger Pieter Huistra perform inconsistently with FC Groningen, former Ajax and Oranje midfielder John van den Brom doing really well with Vitesse and former Feyenoord player Ruud Brood impressing with RKC Waalwijk. Alex Pastoor ( ex Volendam) guided NEC to the play-offs and old-hand Jan Wouters ( ex-Ajax, ex Glasgow Rangers, ex-PSV) did tremendously within the limitations FC Utrecht has on offer.

To round things off, this is the team of the year, according to the AD Sportwereld team.

Three attackers: Guidetti (Feyenoord), Dost ( Heerenveen) and L de Jong ( FC Twente)
Four midfielders: Mertens ( PSV), Elm ( AZ), Clasie ( Feyenoord) and Narsingh (Heerenveen)
Three defenders: Poulsen ( AZ), Vertonghen (Ajax), Anita ( Ajax)
Goalie: Jeroen Zoet ( PSV, on loan to RKC Waalwijk)

Feyenoord defender Stefan de Vrij

The national team coach has revealed his provisional list of players for this summer’s tournament as Oranje are aiming to win their first major competition since Euro 1988

HOT NEWS FROM THE PRESS: ERIC PIETERS MISSES EURO!!

Feyenoord goalkeeper Erwin Mulder, AZ’s Nick Viergever, Feyenoord’s Stefan de Vrij and PSV’s Jetro Willems have all been called up for the first time, while Jasper Cillessen, Adam Maher, Ola John and Luciano Narsingh all have yet to make their debut for the senior side as well.

Star players such as Arjen Robben, Robin van Persie, Wesley Sneijder and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar have all made Van Marwijk’s provisional squad too.

Additionally, the Holland boss has included Barcelona midfielder Ibrahim Afellay in his roster for the first time since his comeback from a lengthy injury layoff.

Van Marwijk will trim his squad down to 27 players after a two-day training camp in Hoenderloo on May 14 and 15, before announcing his final selection on May 29.

Netherlands have scheduled friendly games against Bayern Munich, Bulgaria, Slovakia and Northern Ireland in the next four weeks.

Oranje will travel to their base at the Sheraton Hotel in Krakow on June 4.

The Dutch start Euro 2012 with the group match against Denmark on June 9, before taking on Germany and Portugal.

Name Club
Goalkeepers:
Jasper Cillessen Ajax
Tim Krul Newcastle
Erwin Mulder Feyenoord
Maarten Stekelenburg Roma
Michel Vorm Swansea

Defenders:
Vurnon Anita Ajax
Khalid Boulahrouz Stuttgart
Wilfred Bouma PSV
Urby Emanuelson AC Milan
John Heitinga Everton
Joris Mathijsen Malaga
Alexander Buttner Vitesse
Gregory van der Wiel Ajax
Nick Viergever AZ
Ron Vlaar Feyenoord
Stefan de Vrij Feyenoord
Jetro Willems PSV

Midfielders:
Ibrahim Afellay Barcelona
Mark van Bommel AC Milan
Nigel de Jong Man City
Adam Maher AZ
Hedwiges Maduro Valencia
Stijn Schaars Sporting
Wesley Sneijder Inter
Kevin Strootman PSV
Rafael van der Vaart Tottenham
Georginio Wijnaldum PSV

Attackers:
Klaas Jan Huntelaar Schalke
Siem de Jong Ajax
Luuk de Jong Twente
Ola John Twente
Dirk Kuyt Liverpool
Jeremain Lens PSV
Luciano Narsingh Heerenveen
Robin van Persie Arsenal
Arjen Robben Bayern

Jan’s 2 cents:

Not a lot of surprises really. If I have to believe the reports, Stekelenburg and Mathijsen will be fit for the Euro, but Pieters is out. So the core team is probably known. Stekel on goal. Van der Wiel, Mathijsen, Heitinga and someone else at the back. Unless Mathijsen is hopelessly out of form, he’ll play. This is how I came to know our Bert. Same with Pieters, if he’s fit enough, he’ll play. Midfield will most likely be 2 holding mids ( Bommel and De Jong/Strootman) and the three creative players will most likely be Robben – Sneijder – Van Persie with Huntelaar on top or Robben – Sneijder – Kuyt with Van Persie on top.

This is not how I want it, this is how I see Bert do it. Let’s hope he plays the Hunter! If you have the English and German top scorer in your squad, you simply have to play them!

I think Mulder and Cillesen will be send home soon enough and I do hope Viergever and/or De Vrij are allowed to stay. I hope Willems is send back to Einhoven too. I believe this player will be an Oranje mainstay for many years, but lets not bring him too early. Vernon Anita deserves a spot in my book and Boulahrouz and Bouma are allowed to book a nice summer holiday for me.

In midfield, I hope Maher gets a real chance. If he’s fit and eager, he could make a difference. Maduro has hardly played and I don’t see his added value in midfield. As a center half, maybe, but not as a midfielder. Schaars is a multifunctional player and will most likely be picked on that basis. He can play holding mid, left on midfield and left full back.

In attack, Siem de Jong will be the first to go. I believe brother Luuk will make the cut as Huntelaar’s understudy. I also believe Dirk Kuyt should be left at home. He hardly played for Liverpool and the games he did play were not that impressive. Ola John offers a unique skill on the wing, as does Luciano Narsingh and Jeremain Lens offers a different style of attacker we could use in certain situations.

My 23:

Goal: Stekelenburg, Krul, Vorm

Defense: Schaars, Heitinga, Mathijsen, Buttner, Van der Wiel, Viergever, De Vrij

Midfield: De Jong, Van Bommel, Strootman, Van der Vaart, Sneijder, Afellay, Maher

Attack: Huntelaar, Van Persie, Robben, Luuk de Jong, Luciano Narsingh, Jeremain Lens

And we continue with the Johan Cruyff tribute. The Master turned 65 years old last month. After describing the times JC was catapulted into stardom, we now look at the man who coached the young prospect along in his early career.

While the decisions are coming closer in the Eredivisie, the EPL, the Serie A and the CL, we will turn our attention to less current affairs, and we’ll go back to 1965.

Ajax is in trouble. It’s dangerously close to relegation in that particular season and coach Vic Buckingham needs to be replaced. Rinus Michels is in doubt. The former Ajax player, amateur coach and sports instructor at a school in Amsterdam knows he might risk his career by accepting the job at Ajax. His contract is only for six months. What to do? When his employer offers him his job back if the Ajax gig doesn’t work out, he takes the jump. And although Michels wasn’t too serious as a player, he starts to rule the Ajax club as if he’s in the army. The player Michels couldn’t sacrifice the good life for his playing career, the coach Michels expects his players to exactly that.

Rinus Michels’ association with Ajax was a truly lifelong one. Born in February 1928 just a stone’s throw from the Olympisch Stadion, Michels began playing in the club’s junior ranks in 1940 aged 12 and quickly marked himself out as an industrious young forward. Having had his career put on hold by the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands during World War Two, Michels eventually broke into the Ajax first team in 1946.

The man who would one day come to be recognised as the mastermind behind “Total Football” certainly didn’t waste time making an impression in the senior side, scoring five on his league debut against ADO Den Haag. With Michels becoming an increasingly important player for the Amsterdam side, Ajax won consecutive league titles in his first two seasons in the first team (1946/47 and 47/48) and further strengthened their reputation as the most attractive, most successful team in the Netherlands.

Indeed, Michels’ first campaign in the side saw him play under the stewardship of the legendary English coach Jack Reynolds, the man credited with laying the foundations for Total Football almost certainly having a significant influence of the thinking of the young Rinus Michels.

Rinus Michels, second from right and bespectacled Dr Rolink on the left

After his retirement from the playing side of the game in 1958, Michels immediately embarked on a coaching career, managing amateur side JOS in two spells between 1960 and 1965 before returning to Ajax ahead of the 1965/66 domestic season as the replacement for the forward-thinking Vic Buckingham. The six years that followed dragged Dutch football out of its surprisingly conservative shell and transformed it into a hotbed of tactical innovation, the very forefront of footballing development. It was Michels’ vision of how the game should be played that put the wheels of Total Football in motion.

Like the great Valeriy Lobanovskyi, Michels believed that football was primarily about the usage and control of space. Their shared theory was that making the pitch ‘big’ when you have the ball makes it easy to retain possession, while making it ‘small’ when without the ball makes life much more difficult for the opposition. At the root of this approach was an obsession with both pressing and the need for versatility amongst the players – Michels wanted his players to be capable of playing in any given outfield position with equal proficiency at any given time.

The semi pros are told to either stop or become full pro as Michels wants them at the club six days a week. He rules with an iron fist and demands that Ajax becomes a top club again. Not just in Holland, but also beyond. Cruyff, at that time, is a great prospect for the club, but nothing more than that. Rinus Michels and his father in law Cor Coster will instill a sense of responsibility into the youngster and open up his awareness about what it takes to be a successful athlete. Cruyff and Piet Keizer are the first to accept the full pro status and “black” money from the builders brothers Van der Meijden will allow Michels to invest in his dreams. The brothers do not have a good reputation at the club though, as persistent rumours say the bros worked with the Nazis during WW2 and Ajax – having a lot of Jewish members – is reluctant to commit to the construction company. But, Jewish chairman Jaap van Praag agrees to accept them as Ajax has serious ambitions.

Michels, as sports teacher, knows a thing or two about the human physiology and contract an athletic coach, Cees Koppelaar, to turn his players into real athletes. He also cleans up the Ajax squad and engages young attacking players like Barry Hulshoff, Wim Suurbier and Theo van Duyvenbode and turns them into defenders. Allowing his Ajax a style of football that would slowly but surely turn into Total Football.

Michels rules with an iron fist and introduces the fine pot. Every player who is out of line will have to put some cash in the pot. One Johan Cruyff becomes the biggest sponsor, challenging Michels’ authority constantly. The players are instructed to take a bath, Johan doesn’t want to: fine. The players are told to run 10 rounds, while Michels takes a shower. Cruyff goes AWOL but is busted: fine. The players can’t park outside of the parking lot, but JC parks his MG right outside the gate to roll a cigarette. Michels spots him: fine.

But at one time Michels so angry with Cruyff that he suspends him for three games. Johan is so angry that he bites back: for every game you don’t play me, I will not play one either. Take it or leave it. Michels reneged on the punishment. Michels and Cruyff would play these games more often. In a Feyenoord-Ajax, Michels allows JC to change the tactics in the game. He tells the bench players he’s proud of his forward. After the game, however, Cruyff gets the hairdryer treatment.

The joker Michels, as he was known as a player, was unrecognisable as coach, but in 1,5 years he turned Ajax from relegation candidate to champions and in the meantime taught the biggest talent Holland ever saw what professional football means.

Michels introduces more novelties, as he wants to conquer Europe. He introduces the training camps before big games, he would let the players sleep in a hotel before any game, to keep them from partying too much. He also went on spy trips to scout upcoming opponents and he’d introduce a psychologist at Ajax. On top of that, club doctor Rolink was motivated to experiment with “performance enhancing” supplements…

Ajax would make name in Europe and the infamous fog match against Liverpool is the first game that introduced Johan Cruyff to the rest of the world. Cruyff would regularly mention this game as his fave of all time. At Anfield Road, Cruyff puts Ajax ahead twice although they do end the game at 2-2. Cruyff returns from the games in Europe with the – for him – eyeopening conclusion that English and German teams play without imagination and are very predictable. Ever since those games, Cruyff is convinced that a Dutch team should always be able to beat an English team.

Michels wants to keep on building his Ajax and in those days the starting line up is still to be approved by some technical committee. Michels now starts a campaign to make that committee obsolete and take control of the club.

In the quarterfinals of 1967, Ajax loses out against Prague and Michels would clean up his squad even more. The players responsible for the loss get a memo. The memo tells them they won’t be needed anymore. For the next season, Michels signs a player from Yugoslavia, one Velibor Vasovic. Vasovic played a European Cup finals with Partizan Belgrado and would bring loads of experience to the Ajax squad. One of the key things Vasovic did, which shocked the Ajax players, is hit the ball into the stands if the pressure became too much. Michels loved it! He put the tall Hulshoff with Vasovic and these two would become the feared backbone of the new Ajax.

Rinus Michels was a pretty good amateur opera singer. In this clip he sings with Willy Alberti for the Oranje 1974 squad. Around 2.41 Michels gets the mic and lets rip.

Michels in an interview back then: “Some players lacked the mentality to be ruthless. I needed defenders who’d play without frills. Do the job. 100% focused. I need to see their will to win and to do everything that needs to be done for it. I like attractive football. But it’s not the goal, merely a means to an end.”

Cruyff, in the meantime, is getting more and more eyebrows raised at both Ajax and Oranje. The forward is seen as extremely aggressive in his approach. Mental coach Grunwald writes a report about the young Cruyff that sounds devastating in today’s terms. Cruyff laughs about it now and says “I’d probably be diagnosed with ADD, hahaha….”.

Grunwald says: “Cruyff always wants to be the first, the best and the loudest. And he constantly feels threatened, so he is constantly in the position of attack. He is totally self centered and doesn’t seeem to worry about how others view him. He needs constant attention.”

True story: the club advices Cruyff to buy a dog. So he can learn what it is to be responsible… Grunwald analyses further. “Cruyff lost his dad at a young age. This is most likely the reason why he can’t tolerate authority.” Cruyff himself. “I was not easy when I was young. I had a period where I didn’t play well and instead of being humble, I became even tougher on others, as if I blamed them. Whenever I felt hard done by, I would lash out. I had a very big mouth. As a result of stress and anger management issues, I acted as a juvenile delinquent.”

In the season 67/68, Ajax is ousted out of the Europa Cup by Real Madrid, after Cruyff misses a huge chance one on one with the goalie. Cruyff shoots the ball on the goalie’s body and is devastated. As a result of his spoiled behaviour, his team mates have trouble consoling him. Henk Groot even says: “I play for my money Johan! Your miss has cost me.”

In the next season, Ajax plays Benfica at home and Cruyff misses three big opportunities to score. The best player of Holland might simply not be good enough for Europe, is the general thought in the country. The response comes fast. In Lisbon, it takes Ajax 30 minutes to be 0-3 up, with two sensational goals by Cruyff. A decider in Paris is needed and in that attention grabbing game, Cruyff rules. He scores and has an assist and enters the realm of European top player for good. In 1969, Cruyff is a national hero and on his way to becoming an international one too. Within three years under Michels, the youngster has learned the ropes and would get a grip on his own difficult personality too, in order to reap the results of his labour in the years to come.

Last month, Johan Cruyff turned 65. As the famous saying goes: “you don’t stop playing because you get old… You get old because you stop playing…” Well, “Jopie” is still playing. At Ajax, Barca and at Chivas. He’s working with his Foundation, in his University and in the meantime shows up regularly in the media to share his wisdom.

Johan is our muse here on the blog and his 65th deserves a series of cool and unique articles. Although they were published in the VI already .

Part 1. Johan Cruyff – Beatnick on studs…

It’s April 25, 1968 and Johan Cruyff, a tremendously talented young player, turns 21 years old. The media don’t care. In the 1960s, the Dutch society is in full swing. Flowerpower, provos, The Beatles and The Stones have changed the boring 1950s in the roaring 1960s. Mick Jagger and John Lennon rebel against society. On the football pitch, rockstar Johan Cruyff does the same.

Dutch football is in trouble in those days. The Dutch national team will not be able to qualify for “Mexico” and like the youth and their drastic musical taste (beat music, blues, black music) the Dutch football players feel that “the times, they are a-changing…”.

In all layers of society, innovation seeps through. Ramses Shaffy innovates in music, while Kees van Kooten and Wim de Bie break with conventions in their Hadimassa cabaret. And rebel author Jan Cremer creates literary porn in his “Ik, Jan Cremer”, which motivates thousands of young adolescents to suddenly start reading books. San Francisco and Amsterdam are the capitals of the world. The Hippies take control of Ashbury in the city on the bay, while the provos emerge in Amsterdam. Their manifesto: “It is our duty to rebel against anything, anytime we can. We acknowledge that we will lose our plight, but it is essential to provoke the powers that be as much as possible.” Authority, nationalism and respect for the royal family are decreasing by the week. When our crown princess decides to marry a German, the youth in Amsterdam protests and smoke bombs are used to ruin Beatrix’ marriage.

And all of this is presented in your living room via the television. Just like football is broadcast. Not longer does one need to read in the newspaper what the end result was of some international match. Not that there is much to broadcast, mid-1960s, as Dutch football is – let’s say – average.

Johan snatched up by Danny Coster…

Top players like Eddy Pieters Graafland, Sjaak Swart, Coen Moulijn and Cor van der Gijp are ideal son in laws, for whom football is a part time job. Most have a sports shop, a fashion shop or sell tobacco or own a pub. These players are all potentially world class, but no one outside of Holland had heard of these names. Oranje was never present on international tournaments and Feyenoord was the only club – in 1963 – to get anywhere in the European Cup. The international football heroes also were more 1950 than 1960. Di Stefano and Puskas were already old players. Goalie Lev Yashin was…a goalie. Not the most exhilarating position. Bobby Charlton was a great player, but he was bald already, so not something the new youth wanted to identify with and Gianni Rivera was a defender. Hardly ever scored. The only player fit to be revered as a star was Eusebio. And he was black….

And football in those days was defensive. The average number of goals in competitions and international tournaments was on its way down. And football was tough, in those days. Mean. Chilli, Argentina, Italy, Uruguay, in those days, they all play infamous games that turn into riots. When Argentina plays England and the ref wants to send an Argentine player off, this guy simply refuses to go and team manager Alf Ramsey has to use his English wrestling techniques to get the player off the pitch. This takes 15 minutes!

With the introduction of the television into football – and therefore more money – football becomes more and more result driven. Italian coach Nereo Rocco introduces the ultra-defensive catenaccio football. Rocco tells his players: “Lash out to everything that moves. If it’s the ball, great.” Before a big match, an interviewer says to Rocco: “May the best team win!”. Rocco replies: “I hope not…”

Catenaccio changes football tremendously. The system goes from 3-2-5 to 5-2-3 in five years time. Inter’s coach Hellenio Herrera adopts the system and wins titles and European cups with it. Counterfootball. It does pay dividends. But it stops the development of great talent. Whenever a creative player rises, he’s chopped down again by the Italian inspired catenaccio defenders.

A very young Jopie Cruyff…

Johan Cruyff had the tools to face this kind of destructive football. He was quick, effective and exciting. And since one year he dates a gorgeous blonde girl. He saw her at Piet Keizer’s wedding. She told Jopie to grow his hair. And so he did. And Cruyff became the new ideal son in law. But this time, for the fathers in law . In Holland, Johan would outclass all the other players and would become one-of-a-kind. And his stubborness on the pitch is translated off pitch as well.

But Cruyff is inconsistent in these early days and the team around him supports him not enough…. One week they trash Liverpool with a masterclass from JC, the next week they lose against Dukla Prague as Johan is completely invisible.

But every action results in a re-action. And the ultra defensive catenaccio gets a response. From Celtic. The Lisbon Lions play a finals against Inter and they play the Italians off the pitch. The end-score is 2-1 but could easily have been 6-1. Another team making waves is Manchester United. Dandy Dennis Law makes a name for himself with onorthodox play and the sensation became even bigger when one George Best hit the scene. The Northern Ireland man is a sensation. Unique, both in talent as in charisma. The first Rock ‘n’ Roll star on studs. The Ajax team under Michels would follow. And in a way, Law and Best paved the way for Johan Cruyff. The man who would change football forever.

One doesn’t need to be an expert to recognise Cruyff’s talent. The older fans are skeptical. As Johan is a bit glib. Fast-talking, strongminded and rebelling. Long hair, couldn’t care less what people thought of him and he loathes authority. Whether it’s the Dutch federation, a referee or the coach. Johan Cruyff is his own man.

He will change football as a player, as a coach, analist and as unsollicited advisor. Whether the topic is football, the relativity theory of Einstein or the shortest way to travel from Brooklyn to Manhattan…. Johan knows the answer. Johan would create a shockwave through out country and put it on the map of international football, forever.

Everyone is equal. The Barca coach stands amidst his players. He participates in rondos and little games in practice. He is not called mister or jefe, the players call him Pep. But he does scream and yell. A lot. He regularly halts the practice to point out things. To tell players off. To motivate them. To let them see something. And he repeats and repeats and repeats until it’s execute in a perfect way. Again and again. And he who thinks he’s above the group or he who thinks the rules don’t apply will be told. In a loud and passionate way. His bursts of anger are legendary. They might call Sir Alex the hairdryer but as Pique recently said: “If Pep starts, no man can stop him….”

In his first practice session in 2008, he told the squad: “I can’t promise you we will win trophies. But we will do everything we can to try. And believe you me, you will work hard, so please be prepared.” At Barca B, Pep made a name for himself by introducting disciplinary measures. Little fines for late comers and players who got red-carded for stupid actions were fined as well. Midfielder Xavi: “When Guardiola came, the atmosphere changed. New rules and most importantly, more physical work. Frank Rijkaard was about the art. Guardiola was about art and labour. With Frank, an extra pound here and there didn’t matter. With Guardiola, it was about nutrition, about bodymass indexes and about fitness. I remember telling Iniesta at that time: we better shape up to take this train, otherwise it leaves without us. Pep guarded us as a hawk.”

One of Pep’s new rules was: we come to the club in the morning and do breakfast together. Another rule was: if we play or practice the next day, you are at home at midnight. These rules applied to everyone: also Eto’o. The forward was one minute late on the second practice and Guardiola fined and punished the whole group. “We are a team. If one is late, we’re all late.”

Guardiola decided in his first weeks to off load Deco and Ronaldinho. Eto’o was on his exit list too but the Cameroon forward impressed with his work ethics that summer. He was allowed to stay and he played a sensational season, helping Pep win the treble with Barcelona.

Guardiola had a master stroke in the start of this tenure when Messi said he wanted to go to the 2008 Olympics in China. Barcelona didn’t want him to go. The Barca chair made this huge case about this with the international sports tribune and won the case. Barca was allowed to stop the wizard from going. Guardiola overruled the decision. He needed to show management internally who was boss ( Guardiola and not the chairman) and he needed to show the squad that he totally trusted Messi (and his players) but that he would expect something in return.

Another change Guardiola made, was the trainingscamp routine. As a player, Pep disliked being away from home. So he decided that for home games, hotel-stays were no longer needed. As Barca usually plays late in the evening, players can sleep at home, have breakfast with their family, do a brief practice in the morning and then go home for some rest. They now only need to show up two hours prior to the game. A huge gesture.

Another aspect Guardiola introduced was different practice forms. Pep borrowed a lot from other sports, like basketball, handball and rugby. He also practices most game situations on one half, to let his players get used to small spaces. And, everything the players do, is done with a ball. The only exception are the sprints. But Pep will not use long distance running to build stamina. “It’s the wrong kind of stamina. I need players to be fit to sprint, stop, jump, slide, turn, sprint, stop, jog, jump, sprint…. Not run in one pace for 90 minutes.”

And lastly, his relationship with the media was a different one to his predecessors. Guardiola said: “I don’t do one-on-one interviews. I do press conferences. End of story.” And he never did a single solo interview with sports media. The thinking behind it is simple: it takes too much time and it’s easy to be tempted to say things or show things ( gestures, rolling eyes) that can be interpreted in a way that is negative for the club. Every question will be answered, but at a press conference. And as one can expect from Guardiola: he speaks his languages and he answers most questions in the native tongue of the interviewer ( English, Italian, Catalan, French and Spanish).

Another typical aspect of Guardiola is his obsession with football, tactics and methods. He will always seek out the coach of the team that impresses him. In 1996, Guardiola was impressed with the young coach of Real Oviedo. The then 29 year old Lillo was delighted to talk to the Barca player and since then, the two are best friends. In 2005, Guardiola suddenly signed a contract for Dorados in Mexico, with one specific aim: to play under his mate Juanma Lillo. “He is one of my mentors. He taught me to look at the game in a certain way.”

He spends a lot of time analysing his opponents, or following different coaches. He watches dvds, follows radio programs on football and talks tactics for hours and hours.

His almost obsessive compulsive behaviour (he interviews dozens of coaches for his trainer-exam for instance) and his love for poetry, alternative films, fashion and theatre started a rumor that Pep would be homosexual. He never responded to the rumors, as he felt these were ridiculous. Pep is happily married and has three children.

He has contrarian views on football and he isn’t afraid to speak his mind. In 2006, he was a writer for El Pais and analysed the World Cup teams. There was only one team that deserved his praise: Mexico. He said: “I remember that Cruyff told us that the players with the best ball handling skills should be the defenders. As they need to bring you out of trouble and set up the forwards with their play. No team does this, really. Except for Mexico. They played themselves out of every situation. They might not have won anything, but to me they were the best team of 2006.”

Guardiola went and watched Mexico coach La Volpe work. “He makes his defenders dribbler and move with the ball for 30 minutes and want them to handle the ball perfectly. If they don’t, the stop watch goes back to zero for that player. And he yells at them and tells them: again, again, again….He wants perfection. And you can see it in the game.”

Guardiola also forged a strong relationship with Argentina 2002 coach Bielsa, with whom he worked in Spain later. He would spend hours at Bielsa’s home watching situations, games, dvds until the wives would ask both men if it was enough, for crying out loud, and can we please go home now.

Guardiola doesn’t believe in adapting to the opponent, despite his obsession with football analysis. “I play to win. Others play, to not lose. These coaches look at the opponent. I look at my team. If we have the ball, I don’t have to worry about them. I don’t want to score via a counter attack. That means, that they are in charge and we pick on their mistakes. I want to dominate the pitch. We have a block of defensive players and a block of offensive players and I want no more than 25 meters between them.

Guardiola was brought up with Cruyff’s total football. And he used ideas from others, one of them being Louis van Gaal. He didn’t agree with Van Gaal always, but in his biography he says: “My jaw fell open when I saw Van Gaal’s Ajax play. The speed of passing and moving, the wingers, their ability to mix it up… Players with the mentality of Neeskens and the skills of Cruyff… They took all the risks. That Ajax overwhelmed me. The discipline in that team, the possession. and it looked so simple and it was so devastating… To Madrid, AC Milan, Bayern…astonishing. Ajax gave everyone football lessons.”

In his autumn days, Guardiola played in Italy. He learned a lot of new aspects there that got him into specific medical and physiological management. They also taught him things that astonished him: “The Italians told me it was hard to play football in Italy as the space was so limited in Italy… I never understood this. How is there less space? In Italy, the fields are as big as in Spain or Holland. I found that the reason the game was lacking space, was because the players mored wrong in relation to others. The reason space was limited was the lack of tactical ability of coaches and players.”

Pep’s mate Luis Enrique is currently coach at Stekelenburg’s club AS Roma and is trying to get the Barca culture going in Italy. It is not an easy task, but slowly but surely, the changes are happening. Guardiola would like to have played in the Premier League. He was on trial at Man City in 2005 but lack of funds (!) stopped the current league leader to sign the Barca legend. Guardiola regretted this tremendously.

Carlos Rexach, Barca legend and former assistant to Johan Cruyff: “Guardiola will be missed, of course, but Barca is bigger than one manager or coach. The club culture will make sure the line will be progressed. It basically all started when Johan and I started our work. This is where the seed was sown and most coaches if not all worked on that basis, since. I’m sure Xavi will one day make a great Barca coach and who knows, Pep might return one day in a board role. You never know.”

Johan Cruyff worked at Barca from 1988 and 1996 and founded the tiqui-taca football of today. He introduced 4-3-3 throughout the club and in the Under 13s, three players started to learn to play in the new system: Xavi, Messi and Iniesta. Cruyff had 29 prospects promoted from the youth ranks in 8 years and in the current squad of 22 there are 13 home grown players.