Patrick Van Leuven: Kryvyi Rih is a city, strong and bold people, and the club - devoted fans

Kryvyi Rih Kryvbas head coach Patrick van Leuven gave the first great interview in a new position.

- coach, congratulate you in a red and white family. But today we will talk not only about Kryvbas, but also about your big and interesting football path. This interview is aimed at introducing Kryvyi Rih fans to you closer. The first question is quite extensive but important: what is Patrick van Leuven football?

- For me, football is a team game. Not one player, but 11 on the field and 11 on the bench. We have to work together, because it is teamwork. Organization, individual qualities, attack, protection, intensity are also important. In my football philosophy, the game is the main one, so tactics, individual work in attack and defense are all aimed at developing a team, whether in format 11 by 11 or in simplified exercises. Everything is always aimed at team development.

- you have considerable experience as a head coach. Over these years, you have realized what means to you to be the head coach?

- in recent years, being a head coach is a great training: you have to be prepared for certain tasks, for individual players. I like that and protection and I like it. Combine training with team development. To prepare the team not only for matches, but also for strong rivals, including international ones. It captures me.

- Your football career is a way from player to coach he was?

- As for my football career, I have to say that I started playing in Germany. My father was there in the army and I played a team for Dutch children. Then we returned to the Netherlands and I started playing at the local club Zutermer. This is the team of my city. I started playing U -19 for two years, then reserve, then - professional football in Sparta Rotterdam, and then two years in the second division - Helmond Sport where played two years.

Due to trauma and parallel training in the trainer, I decided to finish my career. My friend, who worked at the Figayerdi then, by the way, he is now an assistant artist in Arsenal - Albert Stenberg, invited me to the Club Academy. There I started a coaching career with the U-11 and every year there were new trials: I took older age groups. Next - Sparta Rotterdam.

During my studies I had experience in the amateur club and in Sparta, where the moon performed the duties of the trainer who was ill. After 9.5 years, he moved to Ukraine to Shakhtar in Ukraine. After that there was Kazakhstan. Three seasons, and then I spent a long time in Israel at McCabi Tel Aviv, where I made his debut as a head coach. It all started there. He later returned to Ukraine: Zorya Lugansk, Shakhtar, Metalist and now Kryvbas.

- You have extensive experience with youth. They also worked as a coach and head of the Academy. How does this experience help now in the work of head coach?

- After a game career, I started training children. This is a fantastic experience, because they love football. In this enthusiasm, they do not see the coach's mistakes, and the coach in turn can begin to study quietly. Every year - a new age group, new challenges, you dive into the organizational moments of teams and the Academy. I managed academies and clubs, but I realized that I wanted to focus not on 12-15 teams, but on one - on the career of the head coach.

- sure that this experience will be important in our club. Youth development is one of the priority areas of work and philosophy of the club. But how much is the balance of youth and experience?

- It is very important to have experienced players in a team, because they help the coach - lay the basis of how we want to play: this is both the formation and the style of the game. Young players always add energy and enthusiasm that need to be properly directed. And this is not only the coaching staff - the coach also relies on experienced players to help the young people become real professionals. It was always key for me - both in a personal plan and in work: to integrate young football players into professional teams and give them a chance for a long career in professional football.

- usually fans are afraid of any changes and perceive them with anxiety. For you to say Kryvyi Rih fans?

- this happens in any country. Each club has its own culture formed by previous coaches. But, I think that it is useful for the club to have a new face, a new voice in the locker room. It helps move on, develop and add new value. Some are convinced that only young people remain in our club. And the bet will be exclusively on her. But I spoke with the President and the CEO - there are many talented and qualified players in the team. In addition, reinforcement is planned - new football players who will make the team stronger and help maintain the level of past seasons.

- but you are not afraid to trust young people, talented alumni of the Academy?

- If the team has talented youth, it should be developed. This means involving in training, games - from the pre -season. And then - trust them in official matches, give themselves to show themselves.

- a lot of work and a long way. It will usually be difficult and likely to criticize. Are you ready to perceive her and what is your attitude to her as a whole.

- First of all, I have my own critics, which are always nearby- these are trainer assistants. They are not just chosen to travel with me or be near. Their role is to push me and myself to give the maximum team. Therefore, yes, there is some criticism every day - discussing football, training whether they were useful for players today or not.

I also look at the criticism of fans and people around the team - this means that they live the club, live the life of Kryvbas fan on the full. And this is very important - that people are involved in the team, in our philosophy. And the same - to young players, because they come from our Academy.

- In football circles, you are told that you are quite rigid and demanding coach. Do you agree with this?

- Yes, and that's what I demand daily. Be ready and charged 100%. And this is what I demand from players. For me, every workout should not be different from the game. The same energy, the same intensity. This is my approach. If everything is well organized, players will be able to show their maximum.

- if we talk about the philosophy of a modern successful club. What should it be?

- I think that last season the team has already shown: it plays not only as a whole, but also demonstrates the individual qualities of each player. And this is what is modern football. It is not just about individuality - it is teamwork, it is the intensity in the game, the right energy in training and the desire to teach daily at the maximum, daily to become at least one percent better. If you do it - you progress like a football player. And at the end of the year, this means that you grew very much. And this, in its turn, lengthens your career, or gives you a bright start in professional football.

- a revived Kryvbas club is a five -year -old new story with certain achievements and its philosophy. How do you see Kryvbas FC now?

- an organized club, with the right people. Many young and charged professionals who are ready to move Kryvbas forward. Good infrastructure, training fields, stadium where fans can gather. And we hope, soon the situation in Ukraine will improve - and we will be able to fill the stadium so that everyone can enjoy the team play.

- FC Kryvbas values ​​and respects the whole history of Kryvyi Rih football. What do you know about the achievements of red and white?

- If you look at the history of the club, you can see that he used to play in Europe. This means that Kryvbas was good before and now becomes strong again. Last season, Kryvbas played in the European Cups - it is important, and shows that Ukrainian teams have potential and players - quality.

- Did you follow the Kryvbas matches in the Euro Cups?

- Yes, last season the team played in Seville, and as a result, red and white met with the team that reached the finals, Betis- it is already talking about. I visited Betis, so I know how much this team is strong. And if you can play against such rivals, it's a serious step forward in development.

If you remember the story, the Kryvbas match against Parma took place at the beginning of my coaching career. It began in 1996-1997, and in 1999 Kryvbas played with Parma. Yes, it took a long time, but Kryvbas returned to a football map again - as a club involved in international matches. And this is exactly what I liked in recent years - to participate in European Cups with my teams. So one of our goals is to constantly go to this level, play in serious matches that develop both players and clubs in general.

- You are the fourth coach of red and white in recent history. Before that, the club was also known to experts. Which of your predecessors who were in Kryvbas's helm do you know?

- I, of course, have been familiar with Vernidubo, even when I worked in Shakhtar. Then we met again when he was a coach of Kryvbas, and I was the Dawn Coach. It always reminds me of the good things he did with the team always stimulates me to new challenges. Another coach I know from working at Pro License - Yuri Maximov. He is also a famous personality, and during the course he was very interested in what we do in the Academy.

Taran is a well -known coach and a favorite of Kryvbas fans, so I have also known me since then. One of the former players last year worked as a coach where not only Vernidub but I was the main one - the Lugansk Dawn. This is Bartulovich. Think all of you know him well.

- I am sure that Ukraine has become a second home without exaggeration. How well does our football know, our people?

- Of course, when I started working in Ukraine in 2006, it was a completely different country. Most of the time I spent in the East, in the region that is now occupied and the second part in Kiev and Lviv. Initially, I met many young men from different regions, children who, despite all the difficulties, go to their goal. Now I see many as professional players who have passed through the academy, including where I worked. I admire the Ukrainians both in football and in general.

- you were in our city as a head coach and head of the Academy of one of the Ukrainian clubs. What do you know about Kryvyi Rih and its inhabitants?

- Of course, I know it is the longest city in Ukraine. I was here in 2010, when I opened the Academy while working in another club, so I have known the city well since I started developing youth football. Now I know that it is a city, strong and bold people. The club has fans, real patriots, many of whom now protect Ukraine so that we have the opportunity to play, develop football and just live. We, as coaches and players, appreciate it, because we are able to do our work and give people joy even in these difficult times. And yet, it is a city from where the President of Ukraine comes from. It seems President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is a great team fan.

- Speaking of the conditions made for football development in the city, how do you evaluate the infrastructure of the club and the Academy?

- As a coach you always hope for good training fields, the opportunity to develop players both on and outside the field. And this is exactly what I saw when I was shown infrastructure. We need good training bases, players' opportunities to improve, relax and prepare for important matches and usually achieve great success with the team. This is especially important for youth football, because many children play football and want to do it regularly. So join us to create a solid foundation for youth football and future players of the main team. New challenges and new trials ahead. You are a professional and ambitious person, so we are sure of you is the purpose you set for yourself. What is your goal in the helm of red and white?

- I want the team to play good, attacking football. I believe that Kryvbas has talented players, whom we, together with the coaching staff, we want to develop and achieve long -term success with the team.

- our club has a slogan: "Kryvbas is us." And what do you put into these words?

- it's not just a slogan for a team or club - it is also for the city and the whole region in these difficult times. Only together do we catch any difficulties. It's about mutual support; The fact that football brings together all of us makes it possible to enjoy the game together, to support the region, playing football with great enthusiasm. To give people joy not only look forward, but also move forward, and only up, along with the team, because "Kryvbas" is us.

Press Service of FC Kryvbas Kryvyi Rih