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Presenting Tottenham’s Rafael van der Vaart: The playmaker emerges from Wesley Sneijder's shadow and finds the right club
International career thwarted by Dutchman’s limited versatility...
3 Sep 2010 08:30:00
By Richard Parry & Yanick Vos
When Rafael van der Vaart left Ajax in 2005, his arrival at Hamburg raised more than a few eyebrows; choosing the Bundesliga side when many of Europe’s elite clubs were monitoring the Dutch starlet’s process.
Five years on, and Van der Vaart is on the move again, and while his arrival in the Premier League is regarded by many as long overdue, football fans across Europe have been left scratching their heads as to how it is Tottenham who have secured his services, and not the likes of Manchester United, or Chelsea.
MORE...
His first interview after completing the £8 million switch to White Hart Laney shed much light on his motives, as Spurs’ late bid sparked a fuse which he’d clearly been laying in his mind for some time.
"They got in touch with me yesterday as well for the first time only a couple of hours before the deadline. Then it all happened in no time. I was happy, both clubs were happy, so now it's all good," he told Sky Sports on Wednesday evening.
“I was fighting for something that was lost [at Real Madrid], although I didn't feel like I lost.”
"I played 58 games, scored about 12 or 13 goals and got a lot of playing time last season.
"But at a certain moment, you're done with fighting. You have to feel appreciated and respected. I'm heading for a new challenge and I'm looking forward to that.”
The apparent off field problems at Real echoed his altercations at Ajax with former team-mate Zlatan Ibrahimovic; a player who Dutch football expert Yanick Vos insists was ‘at his best’ at a time, while Van der Vaart had seen a dip in form.
“He left Ajax when during a time when he had lost his form,” recalled Vos. “He also had a fight with Zlatan Ibrahimovic.”
“During a match between the Oranje and Sweden, Van der Vaart was injured as a result of a strong stallenge from Ibrahimovic. He told everyone that the Swedish forward had intended it.
“This was during a period when Ibrahimovic was in the form of his life, so the fans were behind hime at this time.”
And Van der Vaart would leave shortly after, a move which Vos concedes was a loss to the Dutch side.
“It was too bad that he left Ajax because he’s a great player,” Vos explained.
Nonetheless, Van der Vaart’s switch to Hamburg proved to be a successful one for the playmaker. He scored 29 goals in 72 appearances during his three-season tenure at the German outfit, and it wasn’t long before the Dutchman attracted the interest of Europe’s finest once again, and in particular, Real Madrid.
“We totally understood his move to Real Madrid,” insisted Vos.
“But we were disappointed when he didn’t play, because we were all convinced that he was a great player.”
Yet Vos concedes that the player’s spell at the Bernabeu proved that Van der Vaart, once carried on the same pedestal as Wesley Sneijder, Arjen Robben and Robin van Persie as one of the ‘big four’ of his generation, has since been left behind. An outcome which Vos explains is down to two key factors; Van der Vaart’s limited versatility, and the class of Sneijder.
Standing in Sneijder’s shadow
“During the World Cup everybody saw that Van der Vaart was not of the same ability as the other ‘big three’ [Van Persie, Robben, Sneijder],” Vos revealed.
“The problem is that Van der Vaart cannot play on the left [alongside Robben and Sneijder], but only behind the striker [Van Persie].”
“Van der Vaart is a great player with great skills, but Sneijder is the better one. As long as Sneijder is playing football, Van der Vaart will be in his shadow.”
And Vos admits that’s the playmaker’s lack of versatility is the cause of frustration for the Oranje supporters; who would rather see the technically gifted Van der Vaart in the side, ahead of Dirk Kuyt.
“We [Dutch fans] would love to see him [Van der Vaart] play in the national squad, but Bert van Marwijk always starts with Dirk Kuyt,” conceded Vos.
“But in Holland we would rather see Van der Vaart because he is a real footballer, instead of Kuyt, who is more a hard worker. He [Kuyt] is also a great player, but the Dutch way of playing is all about technique.”
“But we know that Van der Vaart isn’t capable of operating there [in Kuyt’s possession], only where Sneijder plays.
And the proof is very much in the pudding. Having completed their late move for the Dutchman, Spurs’ statement, in which they officially announced Van der Vaart’s signing, highlighted, without elaborating, the ultimate disappointed for a player of such undoubted talent:
“He has represented the Netherlands at two European Championships and two World Cups,” read the statement, “including this summer's tournament in South Africa where he featured five times in the side's run to the final.”
Van der Vaart was named on the substitutes bench for the World Cup final against Spain; omitted from a line-up containing Robben, Van Persie and Sneijder. The ‘big four’ had officially become a trio.
And the then Real Madrid man would only enter the game in extra time, with 99 minutes on the clock. A long time to watch, to think, to assess.
If you can’t beat them, join someone
Perhaps this latest omission, and Real Madrid’s subsequent signing of Germany star Mesut Oezil – capped by Kaka’s return to fitness – were the catalysts for Van der Vaart decision to leave Spain, and why he decision to join Spurs came as swiftly as their approach. A decision which Vos supports.
“We [people in Holland] think that the choice to join Tottenham is a very good one,” Vos admitted.
“It’s a club that plays Champions League football, and Van der Vaart has the possibly of being a regular in the starting eleven.”
Nonetheless, Vos dismissed the idea that the move was a step down for the Dutchman, highlighting the strength of the Premier League in his response.
“If he had moved to [Manchester] United, Arsenal or Bayern Munich, there would have been the same risk, that he would not play as much, like at [Real] Madrid. I think it’s a good decision to move to Tottenham.”
“In England, he’ll play every week against clubs like [Manchester] United, [Manchester] City, Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, [Aston] Villa etc.”
And Vos is convinced that Spurs’ new signing will not only enjoy his time in England, but could also rediscover his best form.
“When he made his debut at Ajax, he told the press that his dream was to play for FC Barcelona because he has family over there,” Vos revealed.
“[Of course] It became another big city [Madrid], which he and his wife liked very much. He also joined Hamburg, so I can’t imagine that he won’t like a huge city like London.
“When the fans support him for 100 per cent, Van der Vart will play at his best.”
When Rafael van der Vaart left Ajax in 2005, his arrival at Hamburg raised more than a few eyebrows; choosing the Bundesliga side when many of Europe’s elite clubs were monitoring the Dutch starlet’s process.
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Five years on, and Van der Vaart is on the move again, and while his arrival in the Premier League is regarded by many as long overdue, football fans across Europe have been left scratching their heads as to how it is Tottenham who have secured his services, and not the likes of Manchester United, or Chelsea.
MORE...
- The five reasons why Rafael van der Vaart is just the consolation prize after Tottenham's transfer window failure
- Revealed: How Tottenham's audacious move for Rafael Van der Vaart was almost ruined by Real Madrid five minutes before transfer deadline
- Goal.com Worldview: From Real Madrid to Tottenham Hotspur - why Rafael van der Vaart has arrived in the Premier League
- Rafael van der Vaart, Luka Modric & Gareth Bale: Many midfield options for Harry Redknapp’s Tottenham, but which is the best?
His first interview after completing the £8 million switch to White Hart Laney shed much light on his motives, as Spurs’ late bid sparked a fuse which he’d clearly been laying in his mind for some time.
"They got in touch with me yesterday as well for the first time only a couple of hours before the deadline. Then it all happened in no time. I was happy, both clubs were happy, so now it's all good," he told Sky Sports on Wednesday evening.
“I was fighting for something that was lost [at Real Madrid], although I didn't feel like I lost.”
"I played 58 games, scored about 12 or 13 goals and got a lot of playing time last season.
"But at a certain moment, you're done with fighting. You have to feel appreciated and respected. I'm heading for a new challenge and I'm looking forward to that.”
The apparent off field problems at Real echoed his altercations at Ajax with former team-mate Zlatan Ibrahimovic; a player who Dutch football expert Yanick Vos insists was ‘at his best’ at a time, while Van der Vaart had seen a dip in form.
 “We [people in Holland] think that the choice to join Tottenham is a very good one”Yanick Vos |
“During a match between the Oranje and Sweden, Van der Vaart was injured as a result of a strong stallenge from Ibrahimovic. He told everyone that the Swedish forward had intended it.
“This was during a period when Ibrahimovic was in the form of his life, so the fans were behind hime at this time.”
And Van der Vaart would leave shortly after, a move which Vos concedes was a loss to the Dutch side.
“It was too bad that he left Ajax because he’s a great player,” Vos explained.
Nonetheless, Van der Vaart’s switch to Hamburg proved to be a successful one for the playmaker. He scored 29 goals in 72 appearances during his three-season tenure at the German outfit, and it wasn’t long before the Dutchman attracted the interest of Europe’s finest once again, and in particular, Real Madrid.
“We totally understood his move to Real Madrid,” insisted Vos.
“But we were disappointed when he didn’t play, because we were all convinced that he was a great player.”
Yet Vos concedes that the player’s spell at the Bernabeu proved that Van der Vaart, once carried on the same pedestal as Wesley Sneijder, Arjen Robben and Robin van Persie as one of the ‘big four’ of his generation, has since been left behind. An outcome which Vos explains is down to two key factors; Van der Vaart’s limited versatility, and the class of Sneijder.
Standing in Sneijder’s shadow
“During the World Cup everybody saw that Van der Vaart was not of the same ability as the other ‘big three’ [Van Persie, Robben, Sneijder],” Vos revealed.“The problem is that Van der Vaart cannot play on the left [alongside Robben and Sneijder], but only behind the striker [Van Persie].”
“Van der Vaart is a great player with great skills, but Sneijder is the better one. As long as Sneijder is playing football, Van der Vaart will be in his shadow.”
And Vos admits that’s the playmaker’s lack of versatility is the cause of frustration for the Oranje supporters; who would rather see the technically gifted Van der Vaart in the side, ahead of Dirk Kuyt.
“We [Dutch fans] would love to see him [Van der Vaart] play in the national squad, but Bert van Marwijk always starts with Dirk Kuyt,” conceded Vos.
“But in Holland we would rather see Van der Vaart because he is a real footballer, instead of Kuyt, who is more a hard worker. He [Kuyt] is also a great player, but the Dutch way of playing is all about technique.”
“But we know that Van der Vaart isn’t capable of operating there [in Kuyt’s possession], only where Sneijder plays.
Sneijder's shadow | Competing with Dutch star has limited Van der Vart's chances
And the proof is very much in the pudding. Having completed their late move for the Dutchman, Spurs’ statement, in which they officially announced Van der Vaart’s signing, highlighted, without elaborating, the ultimate disappointed for a player of such undoubted talent:
“He has represented the Netherlands at two European Championships and two World Cups,” read the statement, “including this summer's tournament in South Africa where he featured five times in the side's run to the final.”
Van der Vaart was named on the substitutes bench for the World Cup final against Spain; omitted from a line-up containing Robben, Van Persie and Sneijder. The ‘big four’ had officially become a trio.
And the then Real Madrid man would only enter the game in extra time, with 99 minutes on the clock. A long time to watch, to think, to assess.
If you can’t beat them, join someone
Perhaps this latest omission, and Real Madrid’s subsequent signing of Germany star Mesut Oezil – capped by Kaka’s return to fitness – were the catalysts for Van der Vaart decision to leave Spain, and why he decision to join Spurs came as swiftly as their approach. A decision which Vos supports.“We [people in Holland] think that the choice to join Tottenham is a very good one,” Vos admitted.
“It’s a club that plays Champions League football, and Van der Vaart has the possibly of being a regular in the starting eleven.”
Nonetheless, Vos dismissed the idea that the move was a step down for the Dutchman, highlighting the strength of the Premier League in his response.
“If he had moved to [Manchester] United, Arsenal or Bayern Munich, there would have been the same risk, that he would not play as much, like at [Real] Madrid. I think it’s a good decision to move to Tottenham.”
Real deal | Vos is confident Van der Vaart can succeed at Spurs
“In England, he’ll play every week against clubs like [Manchester] United, [Manchester] City, Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, [Aston] Villa etc.”
And Vos is convinced that Spurs’ new signing will not only enjoy his time in England, but could also rediscover his best form.
“When he made his debut at Ajax, he told the press that his dream was to play for FC Barcelona because he has family over there,” Vos revealed.
“[Of course] It became another big city [Madrid], which he and his wife liked very much. He also joined Hamburg, so I can’t imagine that he won’t like a huge city like London.
“When the fans support him for 100 per cent, Van der Vart will play at his best.”
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