Turkish star Burak Yilmaz stepped forward emphatically after the dismissal of Sjors Ultee at Fortuna. The 37-year-old striker led the training sessions, determined the line-up and promised his fellow players thousand euro premium with a win over Heerenveen (2-1 loss). Huub Stevens is concerned about the club where he broke through as a player.
What do you think of the situation at Fortuna Sittard?
Stevens: ,,I think it’s all very dangerous what is happening at Fortuna. It cannot be the case that one player determines what happens in his team. How do you think this is for fellow players? I understand that in a few years he wants to become a trainer and therefore takes influence, but in certain situations another player should also be able to be decisive. Take our best player ever: Johan Cruijff. Even he didn’t have that much power at it Golden Ajax. Sjaak Swart, Johan Neeskens and Piet Keizer might as well have something to say.”
An owner with so much power, a player who decides, premiums after a win… Surely this doesn’t fit in the Netherlands?
“These are people from a different culture, who think completely differently. I experienced it myself in Greece, at PAOK. Who pays decides. This is not possible in the Netherlands. Here we don’t know a model where one man decides. Even at Red Bull Salzburg, where I had to deal with the billionaire Dietrich Mateschitz, several people were involved. Eight eyes see more than two eyes.”
Edge Offside
Sjoerd Mossou lets loose his thoughts on a current photo, that of Burak Yilmaz. “Hold on Burak Yilmaz, only 1758 days left.” Read the section here.
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I heard Phillip Cocu’s name, but he’s never going to do that
Do you have anything to do with Sjors Ultee, who had to leave the field after three matches?
,,Well, Sjors will also learn from this. As I also learned from my period in Greece. No, of course it doesn’t fit here. That you fire a trainer after three duels, while he has just done a good job. He should never have let his head hang for a defining player.”
With Yilmaz at the helm, there was no shock effect…
,,It quickly became clear that Heerenveen has more qualities. I hear a story that Yilmaz decided that another keeper (Ivor Pandur, ed.) had to be in the goal. Although he kept a good goal, he couldn’t decide that, could he? Then you no longer have to appoint all those people on the staff.”
Which trainer dares to step in here?
,,I heard Phillip Cocu’s name, but he will never do that. The trainer who does come must make written agreements, that’s my advice. Demand that no one may interfere, that you may determine the line-up yourself and lead the training sessions yourself. I don’t think that’s more than normal for a trainer.”
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