Ronald Koeman: ”That makes the ending all the more painful because it touches your heart”
Last weekend was marked by the double encounter between the Netherlands and Spain in quarter finals of the Nations League. A spectacular two-legged clash, in which the Spaniards came out on top after a penalty shootout. It also marked a reunion between national coach Ronald Koeman and some of the players he had coached during his time at FC Barcelona.
For us, the perfect moment to look back at the interview with Ronald Koeman at Gran Hotel Huis ter Duin. Due to the successes, the living environment, and the people, the national coach of the Netherlands fell in love with Barcelona. His dream of becoming a coach came true when he signed a two-year contract with Barça on August 19, 2020. However, due to the coronavirus crisis and a politically driven club leadership, this challenge did not turn out to be the desired success. We spoke to him about his turbulent time at the helm of the Catalans.
You’ve had a turbulent period behind you. Now, almost a year without a club, but we happily see you regularly in the stands again. How are you doing?
Ronald Koeman: “Good! A totally different phase of my life compared to being the coach of FC Barcelona, that’s for sure. In my opinion, it’s the biggest club in the world, and that comes with a lot of hectic situations. It became even more challenging because of the corona situation. If there’s one club that was hit hard by corona, it’s Barça, simply because it’s a tourist hotspot. The museum was no longer visited, and tourists couldn’t go to the stadium, which meant we played our home matches in an empty Nou Camp. Now, I’m in a completely different phase. I don’t experience stress, I do what I enjoy, and I have time and interest in other things. That’s a good thing.”
Was that battery completely empty during your last period at FC Barcelona?
“Yes, all the hectic situations piled up. The first season was reasonably successful. We won the cup and, after a comeback, remained in contention for the championship until the end. The second season started with the departure of Lionel Messi. No one, including myself, expected that. Suddenly, a lot of quality was lost, and given all the challenges, it was extremely difficult. A new president came in, and you could feel that he had doubts. He didn’t hide it, which I found very disrespectful. It only shows that you connect more with one club than another as a coach or player. My love for FC Barcelona was, of course, enormous. I played there, achieved great successes, and enjoyed the city. Becoming the coach was a dream come true. That makes the ending all the more painful because it touches your heart.”
What was your relationship with club president Joan Laporta like?
“I didn’t know Joan Laporta personally. I knew that during his previous term as president, he had a good relationship with the Cruyff family. At the time of my appointment, he was still one of three candidates and not yet the president. The previous board wanted me to sign a contract for a maximum of one year, purely with an eye on the presidential elections. I had a contract with the KNVB and wasn’t going to cancel it for just one year at FC Barcelona. I wanted security, at least a two-year contract, otherwise, I wouldn’t come. We won the cup against Athletic Club de Bilbao in the Olympic Stadium in Seville during my first year. It was an amazing match. After the game, I saw Laporta and his people immediately taking photos with the cup on the field. At that moment, I thought, ‘Already so present?’ Quite remarkable and inappropriate. It’s all about politics. That’s unfortunately the reality.”
Not a day went by without your situation being discussed in the Spanish or Dutch media. How did you experience that?
“I already knew a bit from my time as a player that FC Barcelona is a political club. An organization where people work who all have their own contacts with the media. There’s always someone who leaks something to the press. That’s very difficult because you not only have to straighten things out internally but also communicate properly to the media. People are afraid of the media. The president calls the newspaper when there’s a bad article about him. That shows that they want to protect everything and be aware of everything. There’s much more going on than just football. In the Netherlands, compared to Spain, the focus is still much more on football, which makes it much more difficult for a coach there.”
Do you still love the club?
“Absolutely. It’s not the club itself that I love less, but rather the way it’s being managed. I can now just watch Barça and enjoy the way they play.”
