Daniel Verstappen
Member
- Joined
- May 26, 2015
- Messages
- 2
- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 0
Wednesday, 18th March 2015
The rain fell deeper into the valley as I followed club president Alex Aranzabal into a conference room in the Unbe facilities upon a hillside. At the centre of the room sat a small table while a large window spread itself along one side of the sparsely furnished room. Aranzabal looked below at the small town of Eibar in thought.
"I understand your agent has been in contact with several other clubs," began Aranzabal without so much as a glance at me, "I want you to understand that we cannot match their contract offer or spending prowess within the market."
He was right. While Fulham had unofficially 'mentioned' €9,000 per week and Italian side Bari offered €6,000 per week, Aranzabal and Eibar were looking to pay somewhat closer to €2,500 per week.
"And while we cannot offer the world’s finest fashion, shopping and nightlife we can offer you something virtually nobody else can," he paused before speaking calmly and slowly. "We can offer you a home, a family, a friend, a club with a soul. In today’s stupidly complicated game dominated by money, we can offer you something to relate to. A beautiful football club in these stunning hills that remains largely untouched by the millions of football."
We talked for over an hour longer. Aranzabal's passion for keeping Los Armerous in Liga BBVA was obvious and unquestionable, but we didn't talk for a second about the poor position SD Eibar currently found itself in. The president told me of his pride in the club and the town’s people. He told me where he wanted to take the club and how he wanted to be remembered long into the future. I discussed my philosophies at length, including my past as both a coach and an assistant.
"Tell me," Aranzabal quizzed, "why is becoming a manager suddenly so important to you? You've worked in football for most of your life and only now you want this?"
I paused.
"The direction of my career was veering and my love for the game certainly wasn't dying, but it wasn't the same as it used to be. I guess there was no challenge anymore," I replied. "I want a challenge. No, I need a challenge."
"Come Dani," he wrapped his arm around my shoulder, "come with me."
He showed me the rest of the facilities including the training pitch, the gymnasium and the home stadium of the youth side. Our conversation turned to more pressing matters and after short negotiations, we agreed a deal worth €2,800 per week running only until the summer.
When I travelled to the Basque country I could not have imagined signing a contract so swiftly, but in Aranzabal I had found a president of mutual respect.
The rain fell deeper into the valley as I followed club president Alex Aranzabal into a conference room in the Unbe facilities upon a hillside. At the centre of the room sat a small table while a large window spread itself along one side of the sparsely furnished room. Aranzabal looked below at the small town of Eibar in thought.
"I understand your agent has been in contact with several other clubs," began Aranzabal without so much as a glance at me, "I want you to understand that we cannot match their contract offer or spending prowess within the market."
He was right. While Fulham had unofficially 'mentioned' €9,000 per week and Italian side Bari offered €6,000 per week, Aranzabal and Eibar were looking to pay somewhat closer to €2,500 per week.
"And while we cannot offer the world’s finest fashion, shopping and nightlife we can offer you something virtually nobody else can," he paused before speaking calmly and slowly. "We can offer you a home, a family, a friend, a club with a soul. In today’s stupidly complicated game dominated by money, we can offer you something to relate to. A beautiful football club in these stunning hills that remains largely untouched by the millions of football."
We talked for over an hour longer. Aranzabal's passion for keeping Los Armerous in Liga BBVA was obvious and unquestionable, but we didn't talk for a second about the poor position SD Eibar currently found itself in. The president told me of his pride in the club and the town’s people. He told me where he wanted to take the club and how he wanted to be remembered long into the future. I discussed my philosophies at length, including my past as both a coach and an assistant.
"Tell me," Aranzabal quizzed, "why is becoming a manager suddenly so important to you? You've worked in football for most of your life and only now you want this?"
I paused.
"The direction of my career was veering and my love for the game certainly wasn't dying, but it wasn't the same as it used to be. I guess there was no challenge anymore," I replied. "I want a challenge. No, I need a challenge."
"Come Dani," he wrapped his arm around my shoulder, "come with me."
He showed me the rest of the facilities including the training pitch, the gymnasium and the home stadium of the youth side. Our conversation turned to more pressing matters and after short negotiations, we agreed a deal worth €2,800 per week running only until the summer.
When I travelled to the Basque country I could not have imagined signing a contract so swiftly, but in Aranzabal I had found a president of mutual respect.