NOS Voetbal•vandaag, 16:27
North Hollander Van de Ven: ‘It’s not surprising that I never played for AZ’
Defender Micky van de Ven was born in Wormer, not too far from Alkmaar. On Thursday he will play with his club Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League against AZ. Isn’t it strange that he never wore the Alkmaarders’ shirts?
“No, certainly,” Van de Ven said at a press conference prior to the match in London. “As a 12-year-old I did an internship at AZ, but then I was rejected and went to play for FC Volendam. There were also doubts about me there at a younger age.”
According to the 1.93 meter tall Dutch defender, this was justified. “I got up to speed late. At that age I did not yet have the qualities that I have now. I don’t find it strange that AZ overlooked me.”
Tottenham Hotspur-AZ at NOS
The matches in the Europa League can be followed on Thursday via a live blog on NOS.nl and in the NOS app and via the scores on Teletekst. The matches with the Dutch clubs are in the radio program Along the Line and Surrounding Areas can be followed on NPO Radio 1 with on-the-spot commentary.
In wide NOS News a summary of the matches of the Dutch clubs will be shown.
Ajax plays first on Thursday evening, at 6.45 pm at FK Qarabag. At 9 p.m. FC Twente will take on Lazio Roma at home and AZ will play away at Tottenham Hotspur.
One weapon that Van de Ven had at his disposal from a young age was his speed. This season he was clocked as the fastest player in the Premier Leaguewith a top speed of 37.12 kilometers per hour. “I used to be fast too. When I got taller, it sometimes seemed like I was moving in slow motion. Then I trained well for it.”
Quickly adjusted
In 2019, Van de Ven made his debut for the main squad of FC Volendam. Then things went quickly for the physically strong defender. He quickly became captain of the Volendam team and switched to VfL Wolfsburg in 2021. At the beginning of last season, a transfer to the Premier League followed and his debut in the Dutch national team.
His trainer Ange Postecoglou also knows that Van de Ven has had a meteoric career. “He developed late, but very quickly. Since he has grown physically, things have gone quickly. He has adapted quickly in Germany and had an extraordinary first season with us. He will still be important for us and also for the Dutch team. .”
ANPMickey van de Ven (left) during his time at Volendam
The adjustment to the higher level in England also seems to have been effortless for Van de Ven. According to him, this is mainly due to the trust he receives from his fellow players and trainer Postecoglou. “The trainer allows us to do what comes to our mind. I feel the freedom to stand up.”
Van de Ven impressed this season with long rushes in the matches against Manchester United and Everton, after which he enabled teammates to score. “I saw that the field was open. And I know: if I start sprinting now, it will be difficult for defenders to stop me.”
Total football
The Australian Postecoglou and Van de Ven like each other. Both like attacking football and building up from behind.
Postecoglou, who is a fan of Dutch total football, laughs: “I probably know more about Dutch football than Micky. In 1974 I was sitting in front of a black and white television watching the matches at two o’clock in the morning. the Dutch view has seeped into Australian football. It has had a lot of influence on my thinking.”
- NOSThe schedule in the Europa League
- NOSThe schedule in the Europa League
And is it still special for Van de Ven to play against AZ? “No, not actually. My father happens to live in Alkmaar, but I have no special feeling about the club or the city. For me it is a match like any other.”
“It is probably more special for the people around me than it is for me. At most, my discount at De Koning restaurant in Alkmaar is at stake. The owner is a good friend of my father and they are probably there for AZ.”
