Dutch coach Ton Caanen and his assistant and player Jordi Cruyff were yesterday presented officially by Valletta FC.
Caanen has worked in the Netherlands, The Ukraine and Israel as a professional coach before coming to Malta with Valletta, while Jordi Cruyff is none other than the son of once famous footballer (later coach) Johan Cruyff of The Netherlands.
This move must rank as one of the biggest investments ever (if not the biggest) by a Maltese football club at one go. Valletta president Victor Sciriha said: “It is a substantial investment. If one wants to have a good lunch, you must pay for it.”
The city president added that he had come to know the coach and Cruyff during the past two months. “It is a big achievement for us to have had them here without anyone knowing about them.
“I think we have made a very wise decision. Caanen has the professional licence which is now a must for anyone to coach a team in the Champions League. This is a big challenge for us. We had other choices, but after taking a good look at his systems, I am more than convinced that he will prove to be the right choice. He will not only be helping us with the senior team, but we also need him to help us lay down the basis for a professional structure at the club, starting from the nursery.”
Sciriha then went on to introduce Cruyff. “He certainly needs no introduction. Despite being 35 years old, I am pretty sure that he will be one of the biggest players to have ever graced the Maltese Premier League,” he said.
He added that changes had to be made after last season’s disappointments. “We had the strongest squad, but it was evident that something was wrong. I believe that our failure must be linked to our foreigners. They were not up to standard. It was not nice to see two of them for most of the season sitting on the bench, rarely being used in our line-ups. They did nothing for us, although we paid big money for them,” said Sciriha.
The city boss then revealed that two other Dutch players – both strikers - will be joining the club. “They are arriving today (Sunday) to join us and will be with us for the matches in the Europa League. The coach selected them as they had worked for him before. I am sure they will be the right players for our club,” he added.
The president then said that the club would start re-structuring on a semi-professional basis, but eventually this has to go to full professionalism. “Without a foreign coach, this system would have been impossible,” he added.
The new coach then said he was delighted to be here with a big club as Valletta FC is. “I am here to do a job and I need help from everyone. I have seen Valletta in action already and have also seen the rest of the teams during the past two months. Our first aim will be to win back the Championship, but I would also like to see Valletta giving Maltese football a good push in European club football, that is by advancing into more preliminary rounds in UEFA’s club competitions. If not this year, I hope to achieve this during my three-year contract with the citizens. Above, all, I must be realistic. We also have to entertain the fans, and that includes those of our opponents – Floriana, Sliema, Hibernians and the rest. I am aware of the potential of Valletta FC, not just the team, but even the fans. They are great and emotional as I experienced during my time with Beitar Jerusalem in Israel. They eat, breathe and sleep football,” he said.
Caanen said that from what he had witnessed so far, he could say that Maltese football was growing. “Even in Wednesday’s game against Sweden, judging from first half action, one could easily note the improvement of the Maltese players,” he stated.
Asked whether he was happy with the system adopted here vis-à-vis the national team players, Caanen said: “I know all about this situation. I consider the national team players as having two fathers. They all want the best for their son, but the latter can only listen to one of them. Of course, I would like to have the players more often than twice a week. However, if this is the decision taken by the association, then I respect it even if I must say it is unbelievable.”
He added that on this issue, he felt that it would not be amiss to discuss the situation in detail with the national coach and the coaches of the rest of the clubs whose players are in the national team squad. “We must help each other in the interest of Maltese football,” he said.
Jordi Cruyff said he would not have been here addressing the press if he had no ambition. He added: “We all want to go forward. After last season’s disappointing outcome. I am ready to help the club through my experience. I like training with young players.
“Before arriving here in Malta, I heard a lot of nice things about the country and I think this will be another good moment in my career,” he said.
He added that with regard to the national team issue, it was not fair for the coach to see his players three days or more after a league match. He said: “Every coach would wish to analyse a match immediately after it is played, that is, the day after. It is very important that such an analysis is made as the coach would like to show his boys where they had made mistakes so as to be able to correct them as quickly as possible.”
When asked about his future, Cruyff said: “Well, now I’m 35 and will not be playing for much more, perhaps two to three years. After that, I cannot say whether I will take a coaching job or sit down behind a desk in a football club’s office.”