Author: Tarcísio Neri

by Tarcísio Neri

SC Heerenveen shows interest in Robin van Persie

In recent weeks, SC Heerenveen announced that they will not continue with Kees van Wonderen for next season. The Frisian club is looking for a new name to take charge of the team.

The name that gained traction within the club was that of former Dutch national team and Feyenoord center forward, Robin van Persie. Currently working as a coach for Feyenoord’s U17 team, he has been promoted to the U21 team.

Stadionclub intends to keep Robin van Persie as youth coach for the coming seasons, given the excellent results he has been achieving.

Robin van Persie is studying for the highest football coaching license in Europe. Everyone at Feyenoord already understands that Robin van Persie is looking to become coach of a first-team team in the coming years, but with Arne Slot in technical command of the team, this will not yet be possible.

Given this scenario, a move to SC Heerenveen would be the open door for Robin van Persie to begin his career as a head coach.

In addition to Robin van Persie, more experienced names such as Rick Kruys and Maurice Steijn are also at the top of the Heerenveen team’s director of football list.

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by Tarcísio Neri

Fred Grim is fired from FC Emmen

After yet another disappointing result, FC Emmen announced the dismissal of Fred Grim. The coach leaves the club alongside his assistant coach, Erwin van Breugel. The Kannibals are still looking for a place in the Keuken Kampioen Play-Offs to try to gain access to the Eredivisie. The club also informed that Marc Hegeman will lead the team in the next game.

The team’s irregularities throughout this season were a fundamental factor in Fred Grim’s dismissal. The 58-year-old coach had a good start to the season with the Emmenaars shirt, but was unable to maintain stability throughout the competition. FC Emmen went nine games without winning in the Keuken Kampioen Divisie, recording eight defeats and one draw.

Fred Grim leaves FC Emmen in 12th place with 45 points, one less than MVV Maastricht, the first club at the gateway to the qualifying zone for the Keuken Kampioen Play-Offs.

“There was not enough support and trust within the club to achieve the objective. The next games are extremely important for us to achieve this goal and we understand that with this change, we may have a better chance of winning. On Friday we want to enter the qualifying zone for the Keuken Kampioen Play-Offs.

In the coming days it will be determined whether we will continue with Marc Hegeman as our coach or bring in some other name” said FC Emmen director of football Rinse Bleeker.

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by Tarcísio Neri

AZ Alkmaar signs young Quick Boys striker

This Wednesday, AZ Alkmaar announced the signing of Sem van Duijn. The 19-year-old striker left Quick Boys, an amateur club in the Netherlands. He signs with the Cheeseheads until the end of the 2026/27 season.

Sem van Duijn is very happy about his move to AZ Alkmaar: “AZ Alkmaar is a fantastic club, which is also very busy with my development. I’m a player who likes to keep growing. I’m at Jong Ajax, which is a great start.”

“I think Quick Boys is one of the best amateur clubs. I’m taking a step higher. The Dutch Cup was very important for me. I can show myself and develop further at AZ Alkmaar” said Sem van Duijn.

Without van Duijn he came through the Quick Boys youth ranks. The talented striker scored both goals against De Graafschap this year and with his goal in the round of 16 against AZ Alkmaar managed to take the contest to penalties.

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by Tarcísio Neri

Jordan Henderson is called up for England

Jordan Henderson makes a good impression on Gareth Southgate. The England coach included the midfielder in his squad for the last friendlies before the Euro Cup. The fact that he played for Ajax made his call-up easier.

“We discussed his move to Saudi Arabia at the time, but it’s good to see him back in a competition where we can evaluate him better. We can see what level he is currently playing at,” said Gareth Southgate.

The first match against Aston Villa in the UEFA Europa Conference League also clearly boosted Jordan Henderson’s chances.

“He played a high level game against Aston Villa. He has had a huge influence at Ajax since arriving. I know they are very happy with it. We know what he can do and the leadership he brings. Jordan Henderson is a player who can balance a team with many attackers and means a lot to our team” commented Gareth Southgate.

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by Tarcísio Neri

Two Ajax defenders undergo surgery and miss the rest of the season

Ajax have announced that the season is over for Olivier Aertssen and Ethan Butera. The two defenders who frequently play for Jong Ajax have been sidelined for a long time due to a knee injury.

Olivier Aertssen suffered a knee injury during training last month and underwent surgery last Friday. The 19-year-old defender played 23 games for Jong Ajax in the Keuken Kampioen Divisie but must now focus on next season.

This also applies to Ethan Butera. The 17-year-old defender joined from RSC Anderlecht at the start of this season but has yet to play for Ajax’s first team due to a knee injury. The Belgian defender recently underwent new surgery due to the pain that did not stop.

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by Tarcísio Neri

Ajax should maintain a formation with three defenders against Aston Villa

Ajax will continue to play with three defenders in the next games of the season, especially in the duel against Aston Villa, this Thursday, in the round of 16 of the UEFA Europa Conference League. The person who confirmed this information was the club’s coach, John van ‘t Schip.

The coach of the Amsterdam team is confident of a good result, even after the stumble at home to Fortuna Sittard, in the Eredivisie. But he also doesn’t deny that the Godenzonen will have a complicated game ahead, especially with the absence of Steven Berghuis and Steven Bergwijn.

According to the 60-year-old coach, it is important that his team does not get caught up in the excitement of the Aston Villa game.

“We shouldn’t get in their way, because that’s where we give up space. We have to be patient and keep possession of the ball. Whether this will work is another story. They suffered a tough defeat last weekend and will want to give an answer to their fans who are expected to fill the stadium” said John van ‘t Schip.
The manager suggests that Aston Villa will also play with three defenders.

“I have a lot of confidence in this, because we showed against FC Utrecht and in the first match that we can play solidly in this formation. It’s a system that can’t be mastered perfectly overnight, but the players have shown they can play. Furthermore, it will be a fight and we will have to fight a lot with each other” commented John van ‘t Schip.

Jorrel Hato is also confident of a good result against the fourth-placed team in the Premier League.

“If you look at how we did last week, we deserved to win more. We had two great opportunities and gave up little space. So I certainly have a lot of confidence in our team. Maybe it will be a completely different game to what we had last week” said Jorrel Hato.

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by Tarcísio Neri

Jorrel Hato renews contract with Ajax until 2025

Ajax announced the contract renewal of Jorrel Hato. The 18-year-old defender’s new contract will be valid until the end of the 2024/25 season.

The defender won the starting spot last year under the command of John Heitinga, at the age of 16, and despite the sporting malaise at the club, he decided to stay.

“If you don’t win that often, it might be bad for you, but if you look at it realistically, I know I’m certainly in the right place. I know that staying at Ajax is good for me. This is my first full year in the professional team and as a starter in the Eredivisie. I think I have a lot to learn here. For me, the choice was certainly not difficult to stay at Ajax” said Jorrel Hato.

Difficult negotiations that lasted months have finally come to a good end for Ajax, where retaining top talent after the hectic transfer period was a top priority. Football director Sven Mislintat was fired before negotiations began. Klaas-Jan Huntelaar remained the club’s director, but ended up resigning and hiring Kelvin de Lang to take on this role.

With the contract extension, Ajax keeps Jorrel Hato out of the hands of several other European clubs. In November, Jorrel Hato debuted with the Dutch national team against Gibraltar.
“Of course I also use social media and see things happening. It’s good when big clubs are interested, that’s good, but I don’t really care about that. I hope that happens one day” said the defender.

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by Tarcísio Neri

Gijs Smal comments on his departure from FC Twente at the end of this season

Gijs Smal has not yet confirmed his move to Feyenoord, but it is clear that the 26-year-old left-back will leave FC Twente at the end of this season. After the Eredivisie match against Sparta Rotterdam, he explained why.

Dutch media have already reported that he had reached an agreement with Feyenoord about moving to Rotterdam next season. The defender himself has not yet wanted to confirm an agreement. He also hoped that the news would not leak out.

“There was contact from Feyenoord, but there was also contact from other clubs. Nothing has been signed yet” said Gijs Smal.

Even so, FC Twente fans sang for him on Saturday during the match against Sparta Rotterdam. After all, Gijs Smal’s departure didn’t yield a single cent for the Enschede club. The full-back, who joined from FC Volendam in 2020, could have extended his contract with the Tukkers, but decided to leave the club.

According to Gijs Smal, money is not the reason.

“This does not bother me. After my career I can also earn money. I came here for free, but I didn’t receive any fees either. And I still have a contract here that you can say: it’s not that special. It has never been renewed since I arrived here, but that is not the problem” commented Gijs Smal.

FC Twente waited a long time with an offer and when it arrived at the start of the season, Gijs Smal wanted to wait for the transfer window.

“This was not what it should have been. I only heard something again in December. But we also hear about other clubs that are interested, because as an almost free player, you become interesting” said Gijs Smal.

Gijs Smal held back again.

“If something good comes along, something that I think could be a step forward, then you want to see if you can reach a higher level. Not because of the money, but because I want to look back on my career later and be able to say I made the most of it. Sometimes you have to take a leap of faith” concluded Gijs Smal.

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by Tarcísio Neri

Feyenoord close to announcing the signing of Gijs Smal

Feyenoord is already starting to think about forming its squad for next season and the Rotterdam club is very close to announcing the signing of Gijs Smal. The 26-year-old full-back, who belongs to FC Twente, will not renew his contract with the Tukkers and will be free at the end of this season.

Gijs Smal will arrive to replace Marcos López. The 24-year-old Peruvian will leave Feyenoord at the end of this season, after spending two seasons wearing the Stadionclub shirt.

Gijs Smal, born in De Rijp, left FC Volendam and signed for FC Twente for free at the start of the 2020/21 season. He was an important player at Enschede, especially last season. In 34 Eredivisie appearances, he scored two goals and provided ten assists. This season, he has just one assist in 16 games.

FC Twente wanted to keep Gijs Smal at the club, but were unable to reach an agreement on renewing his contract.

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by Tarcísio Neri

Chelsea loan Ian Maatsen to Borussia Dortmund

Borussia Dortmund announced the signing of Ian Maatsen from Chelsea. The 21-year-old left-back played twelve matches this season with the Blues shirt.

At Borussia Dortmund, PSV’s next opponent in the UEFA Champions League, Ian Maatsen will meet Donyell Malen. The two already know each other from the Dutch national team. Ronald Koeman called up Ian Maatsen last year, but the defender has yet to take the field in the Netherlands shirt.

The Yellow Wall wanted to buy Ian Maatsen, but Chelsea didn’t accept it.

“It will be a loan period, there are no other options. It was not possible to obtain a purchase option in the agreement,” said the Borussia Dortmund director.

“Due to personal problems, we had to strengthen in the left-back position this winter. Ian Maatsen fits the bill. He brings a lot of speed, has a strong left leg and can be used in different positions” concluded the German director.
The fifth-placed team in the Bundesliga was looking for a left-back due to Julian Ryerson’s injury and participation in the African Cup.

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