Beautiful football is no longer enough for Joris van Overeem in Israel: “Appreciate it now”

“After eight seasons in the premier league, I felt the need for new incentives,” says Joris van Overeem about last summer’s transfer. After four years at FC Utrecht, he signed with Maccabi Tel Aviv. “Playing in other stadiums, new teammates, unknown opponents and a different culture. That’s what I wanted and I can now say that I’m glad I chose that.”

Extreme

“The passion for football, that’s what stayed with me from last season. In Israel that goes a lot further than in the Dutch league. That applies not only to the fans, but also to the players themselves. The will to win is so extremely large.”

In November 2016, Van Overeem already visited Maccabi Tel Aviv with AZ for the Europa League. The Amsterdammer therefore knew a little bit what to expect, but the derby against Hapoel Tel Aviv in the Bloomfield Stadium was of a completely different order in terms of entourage. “During these games, everything is thrown on the pitch and wasting time is the most normal thing in the world. The game was constantly stopped and the stoppage time in the first half alone lasted 27 minutes. The fans of the team behind ruined just the game. Players getting glasses of beer over them is nothing here.”

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“I had to get used to it in the beginning,” admits the 29-year-old former AZ player. Van Overeem is a footballer who likes to combine and puts a lot of energy into his game. “I don’t think I’ve changed as a type of footballer, because wasting time and other forms of spoilage are not in my nature. I do appreciate that extreme will to win now. A nice game of football is no longer enough, I am now more focused on the result.”

Ankle injury

Van Overeem did not play everything due to a torn ankle ligament. “That happened in the last preliminary round match of the Conference League against Nice. I played everything before that, but then I was in the rags for a long time and then we got a new coach. That didn’t work out well for me in the beginning, it took a while for I fought myself back into the team.” In total, Van Overeem played 21 games in all competitions.

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Soon Van Overeem will fly again with his girlfriend to the Israeli city on the Mediterranean Sea. And he is getting ready for a new season in the Ligat Ha’Al. “I will definitely stay. It is a special adventure and the city of Tel Aviv is also great. It is bustling there seven days a week and we feel very safe there. Although you don’t always get that idea through the media. But it is just like in any big city where you better avoid certain places.”

Derrick Luckassen

Not only does Van Overeem spend a lot of time with his girlfriend, he also hangs out with Derrick Luckassen. “As AZ youth players, we always sat together on the bus or took the train to Alkmaar together. Now seventeen years later, we play football together at the same club in Israel.” Luckassen made the move from PSV to Maccabi Tel Aviv last summer. In the yellow-blue shirt, Brian Brobbey’s brother plays weekly in the heart of the defense.

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At the moment, Van Overeem is still with the Israeli top club for two years. Last season ended The Gels as a third. “I have learned not to look too far ahead. Living in the moment, that’s what I try. And I like that very much.”