With a garbage bag full of match shirts, Mark de Vries enters the studio of De Aftrap. “I think I have 100 to 120,” says the former professional of FC Volendam. Tonight he is a guest with Sander Middelbeek, trainer of Ajax’s Saturday amateurs. Each of the shirts actually has a nice story. How he got the shirt of England international Les Ferdinand, the now 47-year-old De Vries tells in the video below.
How Mark de Vries got the Les Ferdinand shirt – NH Sport/ Edward Dekker
HRC from Den Helder was De Vries’ first football club. He made his debut in professional football in 1994 for FC Volendam. After that, the goal thief of yesteryear was accurate for Cambuur and Dordrecht and in Scotland at Hearts.
“We cannot deny that AZ has a slightly larger budget and is far ahead in terms of facilities”
As a trainer, he will exchange the women of VV Alkmaar for the AZ Women this summer, where he signed a contract for one season. One step up. “We cannot deny that AZ has a slightly larger budget and is far ahead in the facilities. Look, Fortuna has thrown money at it and it has become third. That is not AZ’s way. AZ is a training club, but in a different way,” said the future trainer. Incidentally, De Vries will also stop as a trainer at third divisionist DEM from Beverwijk after this season.
Trainer Sander Middelbeek has extended his contract with the amateurs of Ajax by one year. He stepped in in the autumn of 2021 as the successor to Detlef Legrand. With some targeted reinforcements, he hopes to be promoted to the third division. This season, that is no longer the case.
“Heitinga struggles towards the end of the season”
At De Toekomst sports park, Middelbeek will experience up close how trainer John Heitinga is trying to guide the Amsterdam club through these turbulent times. “He is struggling towards the end of the season and is trying to finish third,” said Middelbeek.
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Sander Middelbeek: “Heitinga is struggling towards the end of the season” – NH Sport/Edward Dekker
Of course you will also see our game Touch the Flag in this broadcast. Who puts the balls as close as possible to the North Holland flag? Erik-Jan Brinkman will compete with former FC Volendam player André Stuijt.
The Kick-off can be seen on TV every Friday at 5.10 pm at NH Sport. Then it repeats every hour.
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The kick-off of Friday 19 May with Mark de Vries and Sander Middelbeek – NH Sport/ Edward Dekker
Next week is the last episode of this season of De Kick-off. The general manager of AZ then joins, just like FC Volendam coach Wim Jonk. Do you have a question for them or do you want to respond? Send an email to [email protected].
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