PSV Eindhoven chief Toon Gerbrands admits he turned down a directors role at two Premier League clubs but insists that Everton never made an approach, speaking to Voetbal Primeur.
After eight years at the Phillips Stadium, PSV’s 64-year-old CEO is signing off.
Gerbrands’ contract expires at the end of this season and, while his final campaign might not have ended in another Eredivisie title and a cloud of red-and-white confetti, he can still look back fondly on eight trophies and a run to the knockout phase of the Champions League in 2015/16.
Loyal until the end, Gerbrands remained at PSV despite attracting admiring glances from a number of English-based clubs.
Did Everton try to hire PSV’s Toon Gerbrands?
“For me, a contract that I promise I will sign with a club is for a certain period of time,” he says.
“Whoever comes calling, no matter what happens, no matter whether it is a big competition where I can earn four times as much, I will stay put.
“I’m not going to name names. But I’ve had two Premier League clubs that called me (and asked) if I wanted to become director there. Those conversations are very short: ‘Do you want to come for an interview?’ Well, no.
“That was about four years ago.”
When pressed further on the identity of those mystery suitors, Gerbrands was at pains to point out that Everton never made an attempt to reunite him with Marcel Brands at Goodison Park.
“No, it wasn’t Everton. But we’re not going to go through the whole list now, are we,”, he adds with a laugh.
“I had a commitment to the club where I worked. I am not a job hopper.”
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PSV finished just two points shy of Erik Ten Hag’s Ajax in the 2021/22 Eredivisie table and were knocked out by Leicester City in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Conference League.
Despite a couple of domestic cups, Gerbrands views his final season at the helm as something of a disappointment.
At PSV, anything less than the best is not good enough.
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