Former PSV captain Timmy Simons: ‘’I’ve never been pain-free for a single day’’

‘’Everything cracks, every day,’’ Simons reveals in an interview with HUMO. ‘’The damage is not insignificant: hip, back, knees… Especially my hip: when I kick a ball, I immediately feel a sharp pain. So I try to avoid it.’’

Simons rarely suffered injuries during his football career and only ended his career aged 42. However, even though he didn’t show it, he was struggling on the pitch. ‘’I’ve felt pain throughout my entire career. It doesn’t come as a shock, as it might for someone else my age. I’ve never been pain-free for a single day.’’

Exciting coach

After hanging up his football boots, the former Belgian international went into management. Simons is seen as one of the most exciting coaches in Belgium and is proving to be a rising star. Last season, he led FCV Dender EH to promotion to Belgium’s top flight, and he’s now plying his trade at KVC Westerlo, which has started the season surprisingly well. ‘’If Westerlo is my ceiling, then so be it. If there’s more to achieve, we’ll see. From my playing career, you can deduce that I don’t move clubs often. Five years at Club Brugge, five years at PSV, three years at Nürnberg, and another five years at Club. As a coach, it’s harder. If you can stay somewhere for two years, that’s a big success. It could all be over after three months. That’s the harsh reality.’’