Piet de Visser
Encyclopedia
Piet de Visser is a Dutch
football manager
and scout. He is best known for scouting players like Romário
and Ronaldo
and successfully bringing them to Europe. He is currently a personal adviser to Roman Abramovich
, the owner of the English club Chelsea F.C. For the 2010 FIFA World Cup
, de Visser has been an analyst for Dutch television, mainly covering the African teams.
.
In 1964 he took his first assignment as a head manager at DFC
and became champion of the second division in his first year. In 1973, while manager of De Graafschap
, he and his club (which included defender Guus Hiddink
) were promoted to the Eredivisie
. He subsequently became champion of the Eerste Divisie
with NEC in 1975, and moved to the R.W.D. Molenbeek
which had won the Belgian League the preceding season.
He ended his management career in 1993, while at NAC Breda
, due to heart problems. He has since struggled with his health, beating cancer and undergoing five bypass surgeries. During his career, De Visser managed Sparta, DFC, Telstar, De Graafschap, NEC, R.W.D. Molenbeek, FC Den Haag, Roda JC, AZ Alkmaar, Willem II
and NAC Breda
.
, Ronaldo
, Alex
, Farfán
, Gomes, and Dzsudzsák
for the club. He even scouted Adriano
but PSV coach Erik Gerets was not interested in signing the Brazilian.
, and is considered a close personal adviser on transfers to Roman Abramovich
. In one of his first scouting assignments for Chelsea, De Visser was responsible for the transfer of Arjen Robben
from PSV to Chelsea. Guus Hiddink
, who played under De Visser at De Graafschap, and who worked with him at PSV, was recommended to Abramovich (who pays Hiddink's wages) for the position of manager of the Russia national football team
. De Visser also recommended the hiring of Frank Arnesen
to Abramovich, a move which was opposed by Jose Mourinho
. It was De Visser who first recommended the signing of Mikel John Obi
and Salomon Kalou
to Frank Arnesen for Chelsea. De Visser and Arnesen have since clashed with Mourinho over transfer policy, with the two allegedly recommending Alex
be brought over from PSV to solve the club's defensive problems. Mourinho is said to have preferred Khalid Boulahrouz
instead.
De Visser has also been instrumental in assisting Abramovich in setting up a youth academy at Chelsea, modelled on the academy at PSV. According to De Visser, "Mr Abramovich is fed up that he has to keep paying millions and millions for big star players. He had to pay an absolute fortune to get players like Didier Drogba
and Michael Essien
. This is why he has asked me as a private scout to look out for top class young players who will be the Chelsea stars in three years time."
De Visser was also instrumental in the firing of Chelsea manager Luiz Felipe Scolari
and the installment of Guus Hiddink
. According to De Visser he alerted Roman Abramovich of Scolari's lacklustre training methods: "I had to watch training sessions he was giving to the squad. I died of shock. It was so weak, his training sessions lacked every kind of sharpness. It made the entire squad lack sharpness in matches. I did not need a lot of time to conclude things were really bad with Chelsea."
for his entire oeuvre. The award is named after Rinus Michels
, who was named coach of the century by FIFA
in 1999.
. He has said: "I want the player to get a good contract, and also that the football association and the club where the boy comes from gets a decent compensation. I would like to climb to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro
and shout across the continent 'Boys watch out for shady agents!'"
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
football manager
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
and scout. He is best known for scouting players like Romário
Romário
Romário de Souza Faria , better known simply as Romário , is a former footballer who played striker,manager and current politician where is currently running for a mayor like position in his hometown...
and Ronaldo
Ronaldo
Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima , commonly known as Ronaldo, is a retired Brazilian footballer who last played for Corinthians. Ronaldo is widely considered to be the greatest 'pure' striker in the history of the modern game, and by some accounts, in the history of football. Ronaldo was one of the...
and successfully bringing them to Europe. He is currently a personal adviser to Roman Abramovich
Roman Abramovich
Roman Arkadyevich Abramovich is a Russian businessman and the main owner of the private investment company Millhouse LLC.In 2003, Abramovich was named Person of the Year by Expert, a Russian business magazine. He shared this title with Mikhail Khodorkovsky...
, the owner of the English club Chelsea F.C. For the 2010 FIFA World Cup
2010 FIFA World Cup
The 2010 FIFA World Cup was the 19th FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in South Africa from 11 June to 11 July 2010...
, de Visser has been an analyst for Dutch television, mainly covering the African teams.
Manager
After a career as a player for De Zeeuwen, RCH and Zeeland Sport, De Visser became involved in management. In 1957 he started as a youth and assistant manager at SpartaSparta Rotterdam
Sparta Rotterdam is the oldest professional football team in the Netherlands, established on April 1, 1888. Sparta is one of three professional football clubs from Rotterdam, the others being Excelsior and Feyenoord , the latter playing in the Eredivisie.-History:Sparta was first founded in 1887....
.
In 1964 he took his first assignment as a head manager at DFC
FC Dordrecht
FC Dordrecht is a football club from the city of Dordrecht in the Netherlands, currently playing in the Eerste Divisie.- History :Founded on 16 August 1883 as Dordrechtsche Football Club , it became a professional club in 1954 upon the introduction of professional football to the Netherlands...
and became champion of the second division in his first year. In 1973, while manager of De Graafschap
De Graafschap
De Graafschap is a professional football club from Doetinchem, Netherlands. It was formed on 1 February 1954 and they play their home games at the "De Vijverberg" stadium. Their current home ground stands on where the old pitch used to be located and was opened on 12 August 2000...
, he and his club (which included defender Guus Hiddink
Guus Hiddink
Guus Hiddink is a Dutch football manager and former player. He was the most recently manager of the Turkish national football team. He is considered to be one of the best managers of his generation and was the best-paid coach in international football in 2009...
) were promoted to the Eredivisie
Eredivisie
The Eredivisie is the highest football league in the Netherlands. The league was founded in 1956 two years after the start of professional football in the Netherlands. It is currently ranked the ninth best league in Europe by UEFA....
. He subsequently became champion of the Eerste Divisie
Eerste Divisie
The Eerste Divisie is the second-highest division of football in the Netherlands. It is linked with the top-level Eredivisie via a promotion/relegation system. It is also known as the Jupiler League due to sponsorship, which is the same name as the top league in Belgium...
with NEC in 1975, and moved to the R.W.D. Molenbeek
R.W.D. Molenbeek
Racing White Daring Molenbeek was a Belgian football club founded in 1909 as White Star Club de Bruxelles. It then became a member of the Belgian Football Association later the same year as White Star Athletic Club and received the matricule n°47....
which had won the Belgian League the preceding season.
He ended his management career in 1993, while at NAC Breda
NAC Breda
NAC Breda , simply often known as NAC, is a Dutch professional football club, based in Breda, Netherlands. NAC Breda play in the Rat Verlegh Stadium, named after their most important player, Antoon 'Rat' Verlegh. They play in the Dutch Eredivisie and are known by the fierce and fanatic support of...
, due to heart problems. He has since struggled with his health, beating cancer and undergoing five bypass surgeries. During his career, De Visser managed Sparta, DFC, Telstar, De Graafschap, NEC, R.W.D. Molenbeek, FC Den Haag, Roda JC, AZ Alkmaar, Willem II
Willem II Tilburg
Willem II , also known as Willem II Tilburg, is a football club based in Tilburg, North Brabant, Netherlands. The team was founded on 12 August 1896 as Tilburgia...
and NAC Breda
NAC Breda
NAC Breda , simply often known as NAC, is a Dutch professional football club, based in Breda, Netherlands. NAC Breda play in the Rat Verlegh Stadium, named after their most important player, Antoon 'Rat' Verlegh. They play in the Dutch Eredivisie and are known by the fierce and fanatic support of...
.
PSV
After his career as a manager, De Visser became scout at PSV. While at PSV he was responsible for scouting players like RomárioRomário
Romário de Souza Faria , better known simply as Romário , is a former footballer who played striker,manager and current politician where is currently running for a mayor like position in his hometown...
, Ronaldo
Ronaldo
Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima , commonly known as Ronaldo, is a retired Brazilian footballer who last played for Corinthians. Ronaldo is widely considered to be the greatest 'pure' striker in the history of the modern game, and by some accounts, in the history of football. Ronaldo was one of the...
, Alex
Alex Rodrigo Dias da Costa
Alex Rodrigo Dias da Costa, better known as Alex , is a Brazilian footballer who plays for Chelsea FC and the Brazil national team. His nickname is "Vinny" amongst fans for his close similarities to actor Vin Diesel....
, Farfán
Jefferson Farfán
Jefferson Agustín Farfán Guadalupe is a Peruvian football player, playing for Schalke 04 in the Bundesliga.-Club career:Farfán began his professional career with Alianza Lima of Peru, with whom he signed for in 2001...
, Gomes, and Dzsudzsák
Balázs Dzsudzsák
Balázs Dzsudzsák is a Hungarian footballer who plays for Russian Premier League club Anzhi Makhachkala and the Hungarian national team as a winger.- Early life :...
for the club. He even scouted Adriano
Adriano Leite Ribeiro
Adriano Leite Ribeiro , commonly known as simply Adriano, is a Brazilian footballer who played striker who currently plays for Corinthians...
but PSV coach Erik Gerets was not interested in signing the Brazilian.
Chelsea / Roman Abramovich
Since 2005 De Visser also scouts for Chelsea F.C.Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
, and is considered a close personal adviser on transfers to Roman Abramovich
Roman Abramovich
Roman Arkadyevich Abramovich is a Russian businessman and the main owner of the private investment company Millhouse LLC.In 2003, Abramovich was named Person of the Year by Expert, a Russian business magazine. He shared this title with Mikhail Khodorkovsky...
. In one of his first scouting assignments for Chelsea, De Visser was responsible for the transfer of Arjen Robben
Arjen Robben
Arjen Robben is a Dutch footballer who plays for the German Bundesliga club Bayern Munich. Though often classified as a forward, he usually plays behind the forwards as a winger, and he is also known for his dribbling skills...
from PSV to Chelsea. Guus Hiddink
Guus Hiddink
Guus Hiddink is a Dutch football manager and former player. He was the most recently manager of the Turkish national football team. He is considered to be one of the best managers of his generation and was the best-paid coach in international football in 2009...
, who played under De Visser at De Graafschap, and who worked with him at PSV, was recommended to Abramovich (who pays Hiddink's wages) for the position of manager of the Russia national football team
Russia national football team
The Russia national football team represents Russia in association football and is controlled by the Russian Football Union , the governing body for football in Russia. Russia's home grounds are Luzhniki Stadium, Lokomotiv Stadium , and Petrovsky Stadium in St.Petersburg and their head coach is...
. De Visser also recommended the hiring of Frank Arnesen
Frank Arnesen
Frank Arnesen is a former Danish football player and currently sporting director at Hamburger SV. Arnesen was Director of Football at English football clubs Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea....
to Abramovich, a move which was opposed by Jose Mourinho
José Mourinho
José Mário dos Santos Félix Mourinho is a Portuguese football manager and the current manager of Real Madrid. He is commonly known as "The Special One".Mourinho is regarded by some players, coaches and critics as the best ever coach in football....
. It was De Visser who first recommended the signing of Mikel John Obi
Mikel John Obi
John Michael Nchekwube Obinna , commonly known as Mikel John Obi, John Obi Mikel or John Mikel Obi, is a Nigerian footballer, who plays as a midfielder for English club Chelsea and the Nigeria national team.-Club career:...
and Salomon Kalou
Salomon Kalou
Salomon Armand Magloire Kalou is an Ivorian footballer who plays as a striker for Chelsea in the Premier League.He is often used on the wings at Chelsea. He has a preference for playing on the left wing as this gives him opportunities to cut inside and take shots with his favoured right foot...
to Frank Arnesen for Chelsea. De Visser and Arnesen have since clashed with Mourinho over transfer policy, with the two allegedly recommending Alex
Alex Rodrigo Dias da Costa
Alex Rodrigo Dias da Costa, better known as Alex , is a Brazilian footballer who plays for Chelsea FC and the Brazil national team. His nickname is "Vinny" amongst fans for his close similarities to actor Vin Diesel....
be brought over from PSV to solve the club's defensive problems. Mourinho is said to have preferred Khalid Boulahrouz
Khalid Boulahrouz
Khalid Boulahrouz is a Dutch footballer of Berber Moroccan Rif descent, who plays for the Netherlands and VfB Stuttgart. His nickname is "Khalid the Cannibal" for his ability to "eat up" his opposition....
instead.
De Visser has also been instrumental in assisting Abramovich in setting up a youth academy at Chelsea, modelled on the academy at PSV. According to De Visser, "Mr Abramovich is fed up that he has to keep paying millions and millions for big star players. He had to pay an absolute fortune to get players like Didier Drogba
Didier Drogba
Didier Yves Drogba Tébily is an Ivorian footballer who plays in the centre forward position. He currently plays for Chelsea in the Premier League, where he is deputy vice-captain, and is the captain and all-time top scorer of the Côte d'Ivoire national football team...
and Michael Essien
Michael Essien
Michael Kojo Essien is a Ghanaian footballer who plays for Chelsea and the Ghanaian national team. He is a midfielder who has often been touted as a box-to-box midfielder for his ability to exert boundless energy in supporting offensive and defensive play...
. This is why he has asked me as a private scout to look out for top class young players who will be the Chelsea stars in three years time."
De Visser was also instrumental in the firing of Chelsea manager Luiz Felipe Scolari
Luiz Felipe Scolari
Luiz Felipe Scolari , ComIH , also known as Felipão in Brazil and Phil Scolari in the United Kingdom, is a World Cup-winning Brazilian football manager. He is currently the manager of Palmeiras. He served as the manager of the Portuguese national team from July 12, 2003 to June 30, 2008...
and the installment of Guus Hiddink
Guus Hiddink
Guus Hiddink is a Dutch football manager and former player. He was the most recently manager of the Turkish national football team. He is considered to be one of the best managers of his generation and was the best-paid coach in international football in 2009...
. According to De Visser he alerted Roman Abramovich of Scolari's lacklustre training methods: "I had to watch training sessions he was giving to the squad. I died of shock. It was so weak, his training sessions lacked every kind of sharpness. It made the entire squad lack sharpness in matches. I did not need a lot of time to conclude things were really bad with Chelsea."
Honours
De Visser won numerous championships at various clubs as a manager. In 2005, he received the prestigious Rinus Michels AwardRinus Michels Award
The Rinus Michels Award is an annual prize in Dutch football. It is supported by the official football coaches union...
for his entire oeuvre. The award is named after Rinus Michels
Rinus Michels
Marinus Jacobus Hendricus Michels OON was a Dutch association football player and coach...
, who was named coach of the century by FIFA
FIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...
in 1999.
Criticism of manipulative agents
De Visser has been openly critical of what he perceives as the manipulation of young players by player agentsSports agent
A sports agent procures and negotiates employment and endorsement contracts for an athlete.In return, the sports agent generally receives between 4 and 10% of the athlete's playing contract, and 10 to 20% of the athlete's endorsement contract, though these figures vary...
. He has said: "I want the player to get a good contract, and also that the football association and the club where the boy comes from gets a decent compensation. I would like to climb to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro
Mount Kilimanjaro
Kilimanjaro, with its three volcanic cones, Kibo, Mawenzi, and Shira, is a dormant volcano in Kilimanjaro National Park, Tanzania and the highest mountain in Africa at above sea level .-Geology:...
and shout across the continent 'Boys watch out for shady agents!'"