Dick Advocaat has admitted he wanted to bring Ron Vlaar to Sunderland but a worrying injury record scuppered a potential switch to the Stadium of Light, speaking to Voetbal International.
The veteran centre-back can be proud of his lot.
Vlaar announced his retirement this week and, while a series of fitness problems have forced him to hang up his boots earlier than planned, the 35-year-old will still look back on a fine career for club and country.
Vlaar earned an impressive 32 caps for the Netherlands national team and captained Feyenoord and Aston Villa before helping transform AZ Alkmaar into Eredivisie title contenders in 2019/20.
But how would things have turned out if Advocaat had got his wish in 2015?
Six years ago, The Chronicle reported Sunderland were keen to take Vlaar to Wearside when his contract at Villa expired.
And Advocaat, the veteran tactician who was in charge of the Black Cats at the time, has now explained why the deal never came to fruition.
“We spoke to the club (about signing Vlaar) but they said we shouldn’t take him because of the injuries. Then I also called him and talked about it,” says the current Feyenoord boss, who will also retire at the end of this campaign.
“He has had a wonderful career. He played a semi-final at the World Cup with the Dutch national team, there aren’t many who can say that.
“He can retire with his head held high.”
Whether Vlaar would have stayed fit long enough to help Sunderland avoid relegation from the Premier League in 2017 is debatable.
But it’s hard to imagine the Black Cats would be facing the likes of Shrewsbury Town in the third tier if they’d signed the other Dutch centre-back on their radar six years ago – Virgil van Dijk.
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