Theo Janssen, Twente and Ajax

June 14th, 2011 | by: Jan |

Theo Janssen: caught in the act!

Theo Janssen was supposed to be the eternal talent. That player of which people would say “I saw him play in the youth and I said to my mate: that guy could be the next Zidane… But smokes, liquor and gambling man… He wasted it….”

We all love a vagabond. George Best. Paul Gascoigne. Johnny Rep. Tiger Woods. Romeo Castelen…

But Theo came good. Late in his career, that is. But still smoking and drinking and who knows, a bit of gambling too.

Theo is one of those guys that felt that talent is basically enough. Don’t have to work hard, don’t have to be nice guy and don’t have to toe the line.
Good vision. Gifted left foot. Big ego. That’s all it takes to become a great player.

But Theo changed. I’m not sure what did it. Was it someone from his inner circle? Was it Steve McClaren? One of the media people who claim to have “a special bond” or was it Joop Musterman?

According to Theo, it sure as hell wasn’t Munsterman. The populist but highly successful Twente chairman might be the big man behind Twente’s success and he might be the cool, relaxed dude with the contrarian one-liners but behind the scenes, Munsterman played a nasty game with Janssen. And ask Ronnie Stam about Munsterman. He’ll tell you similar things.

munster
Joop Munsterman, populist

But Theo did start to use another body part, after his left foot, his lungs and his left arm ( raising a beer). He uses his brain now too. Who am I? Why do I do what I do? What do I want from life?

Theo is 29 years old now and soon 30 years old. His career will not go on forever. The eternal talent is a veteran now and needs to reap.

Janssen is all done with Munsterman. The latter fueled rumors how Janssen was poison in the Twente squad and those rumors were used to prep fans for Theo’s demise.

In the years he was at Twente he did do things that made Munsterman cringe. Things that didn’t fit with the middle-of-the-road image of Twente. He drank too much and had a serious car accident, helping a Twente colleague in a coma. He ended up in court about it and Twente suspended Janssen for two months. During the festivities of Twente’s championship, a camera team followed him when he feverishly tried to score a beer.

The world champion foot golf has grown up. During that sponsored event in 2009, Theo tells the press how he was depressed after the accident and how he almost decided to quit pro football. He hid at home, cried every day and avoided the outside world.

This honesty and deep level of selfreflection is rare in football. You’d only wish Drenthe, Babel, Elia and others would have an ounce of that.

Business man Munsterman saw that Janssen had at least some money attached to him if he’d leave this summer and not next summer, transfer free. The end is sacred to the means, he must have thought, and pushed Theo out.

theojanssen_476688b

Another school of thought at Twente thinks Janssen only has two great seasons of top football in him as a result of his drinking and smoking.

His behavior in the dressing room is the behavior of the best player of the team ( which he is) and you’ll find that anywhere. So what else is new. Ask Cruyff, Van Hanegem, Sneijder, Fabregas and Gerard.

His options were limited though. Janssen did go for a foreign adventure before, and ended up in Belgium. For most football players, Belgium is not international. They speak almost like us. You can get to Belgium in less time from Arnhem than to – say – Groningen or Heerenveen. But still, Theo Janssen got homesick.

They don’t come more Dutch than Theo.

So, it was clear that it would be Ajax, Feyenoord or PSV. Theo Janssen wouldn’t fit in Eindhoven so PSV was off. Feyenoord and Theo seem to be made in heaven as a couple but Feyenoord can’t pay the midfielder. And Frank de Boer appears to be a fan. He seems to have something with gifted left footers.

Frank de Boer: “Theo is quality. A great player. I’m happy he signed because he’ll make us stronger. We have a young group and we can use someone with his personality and experience. His mentality is key too.”

Theo Janssen: “Ajax called and I didn’t need to think long. The history, the shirt, the fact that they play Champions League. I knew this was where my future would be.”

“The whole transfer window is months and Ajax wanted to move immediately. That was good. Also, Frank de Boer appeared to be really motivated to sign me and I had a good click with him.”

janssen inter

The first official game Janssen will play for Ajax is most likely the JC Schaal duel with FC Twente.

Frank de Boer told Janssen that he needs to focus on the left holding midfielder’s position ( in 4-2-3-1). Not the creative role behind the striker. Christian Eriksen is the first in line for that role.

De Boer isn’t worried about Theo’s smoking. “Apparently he smokes since he’s 11 years old. He’s 29 years old now. Do you think I can talk him out of it? It’s not my job. He needs to perform. What he does in his private life is his matter. But, I don’t want to see cigarettes or anything like it at the club, in the dressing room, the bus, the parking lot or the whole of Amsterdam for that matter. The media will chase him and he knows it so he can smoke in his own home, and that’s it. But we shouldn’t be too anal about it. Van Basten, Rijkaard, Cruyff, Van Hanegem…they all smoked during their careers and although it’s not smart nor healthy, it never stopped them from being great….”

Obviously, one paparazza was lucky to find Janssen already with a smoking strike: Theo: all tattoed, drinking and smoking! To be continued….

JC rookt
JC: smokin!!!!

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Comments

Displaying the most recent 25 comments from a total of 68 comments.

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By Tiju | June 15th, 2011 at 2:10 pm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ancvyF_LeM
Neds Vs Eng Feb 2005
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fduBDddYoMM&feature=related
Neds Vs italy

By Alex | June 15th, 2011 at 4:08 pm

Lol, ooooh ive never heard that before, fuck you.. hmm, im shaking in my boots XD

Posted from Netherlands

By goose | June 15th, 2011 at 4:16 pm

@Andrew; very true comment you made on Janssen… to be a real top player you have to take yourself and your career serous , Janssen was alright with being good on the field but also have the spoils beside the pitch .. maybe he didnt have the career he could/should have had

Posted from Netherlands

By Jan | June 15th, 2011 at 5:17 pm

Guys, I don’t have a lot of time at the moment. Very much under pressure. I will do what I can for this blog but I can’t be bothered to be a peace maker re: Deckard. So he’s off. And you guys keep in check ok ?

By Steve | June 15th, 2011 at 5:18 pm

Jan is the man

Posted from Canada

By Andrew | June 15th, 2011 at 5:56 pm

@Goose,

“maybe he didn’t have the career he could/should have had”

But maybe he is having it now; he’s in the nat’l team conversation, played well in the qualifiers, played well in the CL last year, has moved on to Ajax and will play CL again…nothing wrong with that. And good for him.

Just seems to me that so many talented young athletes are surrounded by people who never say “no” to them, that as long as they produce on the field or on the court, they are indulged…the lucky ones have someone like Hunter’s father, (for those of you who remember that very cool story) and some are lucky enough at some point to come under the influence of the right coach, advisor or veteran(s). But the ones who don’t get the right advice or are never shown how to be a professional, well, they all too often find out how remarkably unsympathetic the business end of the sports world can be when they are missing that final piece necessary to have a place at the professional level…Its a good story when someone like Janssen can come back around.

By Alex | June 15th, 2011 at 6:43 pm

Having his leftfoot, he shouldve been in the Serie A by his 25th birthday

Posted from Netherlands

By Danni | June 15th, 2011 at 7:34 pm

theo have a hard personality, but Daniel de Ridder is worst, he could easily reach the Robben level but his head is to busy with the night clubs, alcohol and drugs… what a shame.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtv5AiOlDtI

Btw, the dutch transfermarket:

Marvin Zeegelaar signs for Espanyol Barcelona

Mathijsen is negotiating with spanish Man City – Malaga

De Guzman is talked for Lazio, Valencia and At Madrid.

By Carlos | June 15th, 2011 at 8:02 pm

Castelen is Tiju’s favourite – not mine but when he debuted for oranje he did show some excellent footwork not unlike Elia (who has lost it). I f he gets back his form GREAT! more competition for Elia who needs to wake up. Castelen reminds me very much of Finidi George ex Ajax player.
@Danni, I was also a big de Ridder fan…but forget him like Babel & Co.wasted talent !

Posted from Singapore

By Vincent | June 16th, 2011 at 12:27 am

@Danni: It certainly is a shame about De Ridder. Think he’s got any chance of a late renaissance like Theo?

@Carlos: I didn’t think Elia had totally lost it until this South American tour. Hope he’ll get more first-team football.

So who really owns the left wing like Robben owns the right?

By Carlos | June 16th, 2011 at 1:17 am

One of my Tweeters just said FC Twente made an official move to Feyenoord for Fer !

Posted from Singapore

By Tiju | June 16th, 2011 at 3:17 am

Castelen was a player with kuyt’s attitude and Elia’s skills.

By Carlos | June 16th, 2011 at 3:39 am

@Vincent – Best left Winger now ? Gareth Bale !
Not sure about a good Dutch Left Winger but if Hunter is in form I’d put vP there. or…*sigh Elia. but no one “owns it” in my book.

Posted from Singapore

By Srinjoy | June 16th, 2011 at 5:31 am

Ibrahim Afellay owns the left wing!
Daniel de Ridder – what a dribbler..currently the best dribbler of this ORanje generation and this was the match against Arsenal when he came of age!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQLniBKNHug&feature=related
Yet he wasted his talents..btw Danni i remember ur comment is exactly copy pasted from what i said on this blog a while ago but cheers mate..i sincerly hope that de ridder will play for oranje one day!
The problem with him was that he was voted the sexiest player in the eredivise at the under 21 championships, the premiership, and in the top 15 of the world..that really got to his head!

Posted from Bosnia And Herzegovina

By Srinjoy | June 16th, 2011 at 5:36 am

OK where did it all go wrong with MArvin Zeegelaar, i thought he was supremly talented dribbler and was always regarded in holland ahead of Armenian Araz Ozbilliz as a left winger?

Posted from Bosnia And Herzegovina

By Alex | June 16th, 2011 at 6:37 am

Zeegelaar’s contract had expired and he decided to leave for Espanyol..

Posted from Netherlands

By Tim | June 16th, 2011 at 7:12 am

srinjoy u must be the most annoying person on this blog. its literally a post from u and then a post from someone else. take it a little slower and save the posting for useful things unlike every link goal has to offer

By Danni | June 16th, 2011 at 7:16 am

Vincent – I dont think so, last summer he had a chance to return for Ajax, but he did refused it, prefered to stay on the Wigan Reserves. Did npt play any game for the first team, unfortunately it is completly lost for professional football.

Srinjoy – lol I did not copy your post. I know De Ridder since is debut for Ajax, I know he is a real wasted of talent, if he had the Kuyt personality now it was one of the best in the world. Babel is another case, his life is twitter, rap music and more twitter… from them I dont expect anything more.

By Srinjoy | June 16th, 2011 at 8:19 am

Roly Bonevacia and Florian Jozefzoon have been sent out on loan to NAC Breda for the whole season/..seems like ajax have decided to get rid of surplus baggage..the 2 guys i’m really excited about as potential talent breakthrough in the mould of christian eriksen are congolese jody lukoki and danish stalwart viktor fischer
Viktor Gorridsen Fischer(born 9. june 1994) He is currently playing for Dutch side Ajax. He joined Ajax from FC Midtjylland after completing a estimated €1.3 million move. He is considered one of the biggest danish football talents at the moment.
After playing for Sporting Maroc and Young Boys Haarlem in his early career he joined the youth of AFC Ajax. He made his debut for the first team in the home match against rivals Feyenoord on 19 January 2011 by replacing Lorenzo Ebecilio in the 80th minute. He immediately impressed the home fans by giving Tim de Cler a Nutmeg.
Official: Stuttgart sign William Kvist from Copenhagen
http://www.goal.com/en/news/15/germany/2011/06/16/2534427/official-stuttgart-sign-william-kvist-from-copenhagen

Ajax’s Nicolai Boilesen attracts Barcelona interest – report
http://www.goal.com/en/news/12/spain/2011/06/16/2534479/ajaxs-nicolai-boilesen-attracts-barcelona-interest-report

http://www.goal.com/en/news/12/spain/2011/06/16/2534430/malaga-remain-in-hunt-for-marseilles-lucho-gonzalez-and-hope

Tim i think my passion overflows..but if u dont like it u can go somewhere else..who r u anyway? now dont try to start another fight..i dont post shit uninteresting stuff from goal.com..just exciting stuff

Posted from Bosnia And Herzegovina

By Srinjoy | June 16th, 2011 at 8:21 am

Danni – iagree with u..he doesnt really care about football..why else wud he prefer the reserves, and the israeli league…babel is another waste but i dont think he had the same talent as de ridder..he just had a really gud period thats all

Posted from Bosnia And Herzegovina

By Alex | June 16th, 2011 at 9:02 am

Jodi Lukoki is DUTCH srinjoy.. he has the Dutch nationality..

Posted from Netherlands

By Keko | June 16th, 2011 at 11:56 am

And also Aras Ozbiliz is DUTCH too (Born in Turkey with Armenian roots).

By Steve | June 16th, 2011 at 12:39 pm

http://www.lifesapitch.co.uk/opinions/did-rafael-van-der-vaart-stop-spurs-strikers-scoring/

Interesting analayis of Vaart/ Tottenham…

Posted from Canada

By alex | June 17th, 2011 at 12:24 pm

http://liveadalahhidup.blogspot.com/

Posted from Australia

By RAX | June 24th, 2011 at 11:40 am

Excellent article.
It’s nice to mention also the translation of the Johan Cruijff add.: “Smoke wise, smoke Roxy”. Pretty funny. Besides, I personally believe some people have so much adrenaline running, they need to smoke in order to ‘get down’ a bit…

Posted from Netherlands

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