Henk Fraser: ”Willem van Hanegem could be ruthless, but also warm when needed”
Last week, Henk Fraser and his club RKC Waalwijk faced relegation from the Eredivisie—a tough blow after showing glimpses of promise following the winter break. A few years ago, Fraser graced the cover of Life After Football, where he opened up about his ambitions, his coaching philosophy, and the opportunities he turned down to play abroad.
Henk Fraser was born in Suriname and moved to the Netherlands with his family at the age of eight. His love for the ball was mutual from the start, and Sparta Rotterdam took notice. For over fifteen years, he was a nightmare for every striker—tough as nails but fair. It earned him an international career, and he is now seen to possess the same traits as a coach. Henk is regarded as a no-nonsense coach, and that’s how he deals with his players. How far this will take him as a coach remains to be seen, but his ambitions are high.
You spent over fifteen years playing in the Netherlands. Was there a reason you never played abroad?
Henk Fraser: “I make most decisions based on gut feeling. It wasn’t a conscious choice—it just felt right. I’m better at handling outcomes when I follow my instincts. After two strong years at Roda JC, I had several opportunities. I went to the 1990 World Cup in Italy. Racism was still widespread then, especially in the German league. I got to know Borussia Dortmund—a great club with wonderful people—but my wife and I didn’t feel comfortable, partly due to some stories that may have been exaggerated. So I chose Feyenoord, my father’s beloved club. Later, there was interest from Eintracht Frankfurt, Real Sociedad, and Montpellier HSC, but I was really happy at Feyenoord. Looking back, an adventure abroad might’ve been nice.”
And as a coach? Do you aspire to work abroad?
“My main ambition is to get the most out of myself at every club. I’ve coached ADO Den Haag, Vitesse, and Sparta for four years. I always set goals before each stint—maybe it sounds childish, but I have to meet them. When I took over at ADO, they were 18th in the Eredivisie; we ended up in the top half. That kind of start to a coaching career is amazing because it’s easy to slip up early.”
”The supporters are the soul of Feyenoord”
As a Feyenoord icon, many supporters have long wanted you as head coach of Feyenoord’s first team. Why hasn’t it happened yet?
“I’ve been involved with the club in some form for 18 years. Feyenoord is my father’s club, and I’ve always felt appreciated. But to be honest, every club I’ve been with holds something special. Sparta took me in when I was a kid. At FC Utrecht, I became an adult—got kicked around a lot that first year. At Roda JC, my daughter was born. ADO is where my pro coaching career really started. I could’ve stayed at Feyenoord as a youth coach forever. I loved it—helping boys develop. I’m grateful to whoever let me go because it set me on my current path. My culture and background shaped me into who I am. I know many fans see me a certain way, and that’s mutual. The supporters are the soul of Feyenoord. When I look back one day, on my deathbed perhaps, I think I’ll see the Feyenoord supporters as the most impressive part of my playing career.”
You speak the language of youth and are close to your players, yet you must also maintain the power dynamic between coach and player. How do you manage that?
“From players, staff, and board members across clubs, I’ve learned how to manage those dynamics. Because of them, I’m both warm and demanding. It’s in my nature, and it’s been reinforced by coaches I admired—like Hans Dorjee and Pim Verbeek (both sadly passed). Willem van Hanegem could be ruthless in his analyses but also warm when needed. Elite sport doesn’t allow for much empathy, so I try to find balance. I work well with different backgrounds—sounds odd, but I don’t attach value to color, origin, religion, or gender. I respect every belief, culture, and value system. I only recognize one culture: the elite sports culture.”
Do you ever take it too far?
“Some would say I do. As a player, I was ruthless—not just to opponents, but to myself. I sometimes did dangerous things to win—it was personal for me. Talent is the starting point, but only the very best combine talent with elite mentality. Messi is born talented, but Ronaldo might be the best example—he had talent, but worked incredibly hard. That’s elite culture. In training, emotions can run high, and I’m fine with that—once. But if it happens repeatedly, outside of emotion, I step in. I love passion and energy in my players.”
Want to read more? Last week we revisted our interview with fresh Eredivisie Champion and starboy Noa Lang.
