Ambitious Dingsdag helps FC Volendam out: “From early to late at the club”

The now 41-year-old Dingsdag played more than four hundred matches in professional football in his career, the majority of which were at SC Heerenveen. Gertjan Verbeek, his trainer in Friesland for two years, still remembers the central defender well. “Michael was a player who knew very well what his limitations were. Namely his speed and agility. But his strengths were his insight into the game and his communication.”

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“It doesn’t surprise me that he became a trainer. He was very busy with the game,” says Verbeek. “He always had an idea. I didn’t always agree with him, but when we had a discussion, it was in a very normal way.”

In 2008, Dingsdag played with Gerry Koning in defense at Heerenveen. Like Verbeek, Koning praises Dingsdag’s communication skills. “He could always play very well at the back. He was also mainly a defender who played football,” says Koning. “He wasn’t very good at the weight room either. ‘Just give the ball the right color and everything will be fine,’ he would say.”

“He was also a joker and he was very articulate. He had his mouth in the middle,” said Koning.

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After his career as a footballer, Dingsdag obtained his coaching credentials, although he does not yet have the highest diploma. He ended up at Telstar in 2021 via Jong NAC Breda. In Velsen-Zuid he worked as an assistant with Anthony Correia, Andries Jonker and Mike Snoei.

“He always put in a lot of work and he was at the club from early to late,” says Correia. “As a field coach, he is very enthusiastic and very verbally present. He is a real driving force. That characterizes him best. Always a cheerful note and a good sense of humor. In the players’ home he was also always busy with the players. As a trainer you can you can connect with a group.”

Correia: “Michael wants to succeed in football. You notice that in everything. He works very hard. I hope that he can create some peace at FC Volendam for a while.”

Dingsdag led his first training today and will visit Feyenoord with FC Volendam on Thursday (kick-off 9 p.m.). The last match before the winter break is Saturday, December 16 against SC Heerenveen.