Hhe life is what happens while you make other plans, except at Almere City FC. The way in which the news about the departure of coach Alex Pastoor came out showed tight management. No slamming doors or fuss, but well-considered and in good harmony.
I was in the mood for some drama myself. Something unexpected, a twist. People simply need stories to tell, anecdotes to enjoy.
But they thought differently about that at Almere City. The province of straight lines and tight plots has a premier league club where they leave nothing to chance. Society is malleable, at least in the Yanmar stadium.
About the author
Historian Eva Vriend was born and raised in Flevoland and writes for de Volkskrant about Almere City’s achievements in the Premier League.
The head coach’s retirement was announced last Monday – the day after the narrow home loss to Sparta (3-2), the start of the competition break due to the cup final. The media team already had the standard ‘Alex, thank you’ video ready. The big interview with Pastoor had already been written and was in this newspaper the next day, including photos with the dog on the beach. The players had two days off, the dust settled, the focus shifted to tonight’s league match, away at FC Twente.
‘I love it when a plan comes together’, I see technical manager Johan Hansma thinking when I ask him about it. Just imagine the big cigar. I speak to my fellow countryman from Emmeloord in the lobby of the WTC tower in the center of Almere. He is busy, extremely busy with the selection for the new season. Lots of conversations, lots of calling and texting. And watch hours of images of interesting players.
About ten of the current team will remain. He ideally coordinates his choices with the new head coach. That’s what he did with Pastoor. He suggested a player, Pastoor started talking to him and if he liked it, a phone call followed: ‘Come fishing, Jo.’
“He always called me Jo,” says Hansma. He is really already working on next season. He accidentally talks about Pastoor in the past tense.
But he already has a new trainer? If the old coach’s departure doesn’t make a good story, the newcomer may be able to provide a thread. Hansma looks into the empty lobby. Does he avoid eye contact because he doesn’t want to lie?
He explains that the new head coach must fit in with the club’s long-term plan. Now that combat football has passed its first year in the Premier League, the game can develop further. What will remain: the team spirit, the intensity, the courage.
Hansma is satisfied that footballers from the Netherlands are also becoming interested in the club that all analysts predicted would finish last. Dutch players preferred teams that competed for promotion in the first division, also because they offered a higher salary than Hansma. He was forced to recruit many unknown foreign players with ‘a scratch’. He has more budget for next season. Players will now call back.
If there is no story, at least provide a cliffhanger, I think as our conversation comes to an end. And I mention the name of the man who I think will be the new trainer. I think I can see from the eyes of my seatmate that I am in the right place.
