Holman pays homage to Verbeek as biggest influence on his career

Former Socceroo Brett Holman has paid long-time mentor Pim Verbeek the ultimate compliment, describing the Dutchman as the most influential figure of his 19-year professional career.

Pim Verbeek and Brett Holman.

Former Socceroos coach Pim Verbeek with veteran midfielder Brett Holman in 2010. Source: AFP

Verbeek, who died aged just 63 on Thursday after a four-year fight with cancer, persevered with Holman during his three-year tenure as Socceroos coach, amid shrill criticism from a vocal minority over the winger’s end-product for the national team.

Verbeek’s unyielding faith was largely reciprocated by an appreciative Holman - never more so than with his brace against Serbia at the 2010 FIFA World Cup as Australia fell short of qualifying for the knock-out stage in South Africa on goal difference.

It was thanks - in part - to the international exposure 63-cap Holman was afforded by Verbeek that he went on to win a lucrative transfer from AZ Alkmaar to Premier League Aston Villa in 2012, and he remains indebted to a coach whose death has provoked an avalanche of accolades from those who crossed his path.

“As a coach, and as a person, he meant so much to me,” said Holman, who rounded off his career back in Australia at Brisbane Roar.

“He was the one who believed in me more than anybody ... he he didn’t listen to the critics and stuck to his guns over what he thought was the right call.

“He was in many ways the most important influence on my career. He believed a hell of a lot in me and how do you ever repay that?

“He kick started my international career - and that flowed through to my club career.”

Renowned for his avuncular style and empathetic nature, Verbeek, according to Holman, was soft and cuddly when needed to be but also possessed of a gritty toughness.

“He had this kindness and gentleness about him but he could be hard and fair as well,” added Holman.

“If you did the right thing by him he would do the right thing by you. He expected a lot from you but he gave a lot back also.

“He gave me that feeling of going out there and giving absolutely everything, and playing with confidence and freedom. That’s what he instilled in me.

“In regards to man management he understood how the role differed from club football.

“And he was able to create an atmosphere and harmony within the team, even when you’re not always together.

“As a man, what you saw is what you got - he was a pure gentleman and he will be sadly missed by so many.”

With Holman spending almost a decade in the Netherlands at Feyenoord, Excelsior, NEC and AZ, the pair shared what Holman calls a “Dutch connection” and a friendship which transcended simply football and also included their Dutch wives. They caught regularly in Dubai in recent years when both were based in the Gulf.

“To say that Pim was underrated as a coach is an understatement,” added Holman.

“We dominated qualifying for the 2010 World Cup and did it pretty easily in the end. That was solely down to him.

“He knew the region, all aspects of the opponents we came up against and he got it right every single time.”
Holman last spoke to Verbeek in January at the AFC Asian Cup when the Dutchman was in charge of Oman.

“Unfortunately, we didn’t catch up on that occasion and only spoke on the phone,” he said.

“It’s a shame to speak only now about Pim. It would nice if these sorts of stories and articles came out when he was still alive to show him just how much he meant to so many people.”


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4 min read
Published 30 November 2019 12:10pm
By Dave Lewis
Source: SBS The World Game

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