In an era where scouts and clubs tend to look at ‘profiles’ rather than specific players, one of those who joined Tottenham Hotspur during the Ange Posecoglou era is living proof that there is still serious value to be found in the market.
Certainly if you do your due diligence and look beyond the established big-names.
He was hardly a household name when he put pen to paper with the Premier League outfit last summer.
But as the Tottenham Hotspur fanbase fired up their laptops and began running the rule over their new £34 million signing, there was one clip which just kept on re-appearing.
Union Berlin appeared certain to score during a DFB Pokal clash with Wolfsburg in January, the visiting goalkeeper heading up for a late corner.
Union broke quickly. But not as quicky as Micky van de Ven. From the edge of the opposition penalty area to the centre of his own in a matter of seconds, the jet-heeled Dutchman then blocked a goalbound effort as he took the applause of his grateful team-mates.
Micky van de Ven a big hit at Tottenham Hotspur
Left-footed centre-halves are all the rage these days. In Van de Ven, Tottenham not only signed one of the most cultured, technically gifted left-sided defenders in Europe, but also the fastest. Van de Ven was recorded as the quickest player in Premier League history – well, since records began anyway – only a few months ago.
Given that he was hardly the most high-profile defender on the market last summer, the extent of Van de Ven’s impact has taken many by surprise.
But not Wim Jonk, the Dutchman who coached a young Van de Ven during his formative days at FC Volendam.
“I went to watch the under 19s. Not even especially for Micky. I remember him running past everyone – and as a defender. He showed so much courage on the ball, so much potential,” Jonk recalls, speaking to ESPN.
“Of course a lot went wrong (for Van de Ven in that game). But I thought; ‘if we work specifically with that boy, in a few years he will not be wearing the shirt of the other orange.
“The real Orange.”
Euro 2024 place is well deserved
Van de Ven, in the Netherlands squad for Euro 2024, has swapped the orange shirt of Volendam for the Oranje of the Dutch national team.
He had only two years at Wolfsburg, making fewer than 40 Bundesliga appearances, and Spurs’ faith in the young colossus has been repaid with interest.
Jonk, meanwhile, feels that Van de Ven’s committment and mentality will see him continue his rapid rate of progress over the coming years. The sky, he says, is the limit.
“We worked very specifically on his areas for improvement, but also on his weapons,” Jonk adds. “The attacking, the quicker reaction times, his crossing. He worked on the defensive aspect. And don’t forget that he added 5 to 10 kilos of muscle mass during that time (in Volendam’s reserves).
“I can still remember a goal where he came through at left-back. He sprinted everyone out and sent the ball into the corner. Pure class.
“Micky has no ceiling. Everything you need in today’s football – physical conditions, mental strength and the right mindset – he has.”
Van de Ven, previously on Liverpool’s radar before signing a six-year deal in North London, was rewarded for his efforts with Tottenham’s Player of the Year award last month.
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