Willem Janssen from Well is in his last months as a professional football player. Janssen has decided to end his professional football career after this season.
The defender has announced this on the website of his current club, FC Utrecht.
Ask
The 35-year-old Janssen began to doubt more often in recent months whether he should continue playing football. “My situation has changed and I am now a certain age,” he says. From that feeling, Janssen started to ask himself questions. “Is this still what I get a lot of satisfaction from? Is this still what I get a lot of pleasure from? Two months later I started to realize that I have that feeling and that it’s good. It’s a good time to stop. ”
Conversations
De Limburger, who played his 400th game in the Eredivisie last weekend, has spoken with various people about his decision in recent months. “Of course I will talk about this with my wife and my parents. I also consulted with a good friend and from football I have spoken with Mark van Maarel (teammate at FC Utrecht, ed.). But it is my decision.”
Relief
The defender says he feels relieved that he can share his choice with the rest of the world. “You feel free and a little less responsible. At the same time, you also look forward to the career that will follow. I’m thinking about that.”
VVV Venlo
Janssen, born in Nijmegen, grew up in Limburg and entered the youth academy of VVV-Venlo at the age of eight. On August 20, 2004, he made his professional football debut against Excelsior (2-0). In the summer of 2007, after more than 100 matches for VVV, Janssen switched to Roda JC. Janssen made his debut in the Eredivisie with the Kerkrades. In his first season, Janssen reached the cup final with Roda JC, which was lost to Feyenoord. His good game also stood out nationally. He was called up to the Dutch Juniors and played three international matches.
Johan Cruijff Scale
In 2011, the Limburger transferred to FC Twente. In his first match for the club from Enschede, he won his only prize of his career: the Johan Cruijff Scale against Ajax. He also made his debut on the European stage. Two years later, in 2013, Janssen was leased to FC Utrecht. After one season, he switched permanently to the club from the Domstad. He became a permanent fixture at Utrecht and has been captain for years now. Last weekend, Janssen played his 400th game in the Eredivisie. “That was a goal,” Janssen says about that milestone.
Preserve
Technical director Jordy Zijdam of FC Utrecht is full of praise for Janssen on the club site and would like to keep him for the club. “Willem is a beautiful person and an extremely powerful captain. He does everything as a professional at full power, without making any concessions. We would like to keep Willem for the club, we have already had discussions about that and we will continue in the coming period. to hand over.”