J
urgen Streppel, the former coach
of Dutch side Willem II is one
tough cookie. And he needs to
be, condemned to be forever
known as the man who once turned his
nose up at the golden goose; who just a
few years ago, while in charge at Willem,
declared future Barcelona and Holland
midfield sensation Frenkie De Jong
surplus to requirements.
De Jong spent 10 years in the Willem
academy system – which they run jointly
with nearby RKC Waalwijk – but he made
just three substitute appearances for
the Tilburg club, with the hard-nosed
Streppel deeming the teenager too
callow to pass muster in the lower
reaches of the Eredivisie.
Earlier in his senior career it had all
looked so good for De Jong. Labelled a
Willem youth-scheme class act, he was
handed his first professional contractT
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Frenkie De Jong PLAYER
BIOGRAPHY