A crying head coach, a partying square and a toasting investor: the wonderful return of Vitesse in professional football made a lot of loose in Arnhem. This was the day of the ‘Wonder of Vitesse’. “It felt like a new life started.”
It is just after 12.04 hours if there is enormous cheers on the second floor of the Vitesse training complex. The people who hear the cries of lender Michel Schaay know enough. Vitesse is allowed to enter the professional football thanks to a sensational statement by the Court of Appeal in Arnhem.
Joys fall. The emotional Schaay cannot talk for ten minutes. Employees fall into each other. A crying head coach Rüdiger Rehm runs towards captain Alexander Büttner, who had just left the training field.
“He hugged me. Then I knew enough,” Büttner later told De Gelderlander . The captain is then spotted on the Korenmarkt in the center of Arnhem, together with club icon Edward Sturing and thousands of fans. The champagne is already uncorked on Papendal.
It is the climax of the ‘Wonder van Vitesse’, as the day in Arnhem will go through life. Vitesse, dead and buried for months, suddenly lives again. And hardly anyone had taken that into account, not even the loyal fans.
Despite the malaise, the retired René Joosten could be found almost daily at the training sessions in recent weeks. He consciously skipped the Tuesday morning training. The weather was bad and he assumed bad news, like everyone at Vitesse.
When Joosten read the pronunciation in his attic room behind his computer, he cried like a small child. “It felt like a new life started.” Joosten still got into his car from his hometown Hoog-Keppel, a village in the Achterhoek, and drove to the training complex.
The latter did dozens of fans, where there was mainly unbelief. It was all watched by journalists and cameramen. That too is the crisis at Vitesse: every step around the club is followed closely. If a supporter has to cry, a journalist will immediately come to him.
It will be just as unfriendly as the German shareholder Timo Braasch shows his face. On Monday, it became clear during the lawsuit that he was a straw man of the American creditor Coley Parry, of whom they have nothing more in Arnhem.
“When are you leaving?”, Two older fans shout at him. It is short -lived. The fence is closed when Braasch passes by. Four stewards guard the gate. It is the only time that euphoria takes place for anger on and around the training complex.
Nevertheless, Schaay, lawyer Bernie van Drunen and interim director Ben Mansvelder are the festive spirit when they sit behind a desk just after 3 p.m. There are so many requests from journalists that the club has only inserted a press conference.
There is much unclear. Yes, Vitesse can enter the Kitchen Champion Division, but can the club also be financially strong? And can the club set up a team after the exodus? Much depends on future conversations with the KNVB. Laughing, Schaay says that they have just enough players to play football.
Nobody at Vitesse disputes that much has yet to be done to be able to play. But, Schaay emphasizes, the worries about the future are not for today. “We can celebrate and discharge today. I am only 51 years old, but I am convinced that I will look older today.”
A few hours later, Schaay sees the return of Vitesse from close by. When he gets the Korenmarkt, he is welcomed like a hero. Thousands of people in yellow-black shirts sing club songs. ” Vitesse Till I Die! “, It sounds several times on a holiday for Arnhem.
A Crying Head Coach, A Celebrating Square, And A Toasting Investor: The Miraculous Return of Vitesse to Professional Football Stirred Up A Lot in Arnhem. This was the day of the ‘Miracle of Vitesse’. “It felt like a new life was beginning.”
It is a little after 12:04 When a huge cheer sounds on the second floor or vitesse’s training complex. The People who Hear the Shouts of Financier Michel Schaay Know Enough. Vitesse is Allowed Into Professional Football, Thanks to A Sensational Ruling by the Arnhem Court.
Tears of Joy Fall. The Emotional Schaay Cannot Speak for Minutes. Employees Embrace Each Other. A Crying Head Coach Rüdiger Rehm Runs Towards Captain Alexander Büttner, Who had Just Stepped Off The Training Field.
“Hey hugged me. Then I Knew Enough,” Büttner later Told de Gelderlander . The Captain is then Spotted on the Korenmarkt in Downtown Arnhem, Along with Club Icon Edward Sturing and Thousands of Fans. The Champagne Has Already Been Uncorked at Papendal.
It is the climax of the ‘miracle of vitesse’, as the day will be known in Arnhem. Vitesse, Dead and Buried for Months, is Suddenly Alive Again. And Almost No One had counted on that, not even the most loyal fans.
Despite The Malaise, pensioner René Joosten had Been at the Training Sessions Almost Daily in recent weeks. He deliberately skipped Tuesday Morning’s training. The Weather was Bad and He Expected Bad News, Like Almost Everyone at Vitesse.
When Joosten Read the Verdict on His Attic Room Behind His Computer, the Cried Like A Small Child. “It felt like a new life was beginning.” Joosten Still Got Into His Car From His Hometown of Hoog-Keppel, A Village in the Achterhoek, and Drove to the Training Complex.
Boxes of Other Fans Did the Same, With Disbelief Prevailing. It was all watched by journalists and cameramen. That is also the crisis at Vitesse: Every Step around the club is Closely Followed. If a supporter has to cry, a journalist immediately comfort to stand next to him.
It gets a bit unfriendly when German shareholder Timo Braasch shows his face. On Monday, it Became clearing the court case that he was a straw man for the American creditor Coley Parry, whom they no longer because anything to do with in Arnhem.
“When are you leaving?”, Two Older Fans Shout at Him. It is short-lived. The Gate Closes When Braasch Passes by. Four Stewards Guard the Gate. It is the only time that euphoria gives way to anger in and around the training complex.
Neverberness, Schaay, Lawyer Bernie van Drunen, and interim director Ben Mansvelder Temper The Celebrations when they sit Down behind a desk in a Room a Little After 3:00 pm. There are so many requests from journalists that the club has Scheduled a press conference.
Much is Uncleear. Yes, Vitesse May Be in the Kitchen Champion Division, But Can The Club also Manage It Financily? And can the club Still Put Together a Team After the Exodus? Much Depends on Future Talks with the KNVB. Schaay Says with a Laugh that they have just enough players to play indoor football.
No one at vitesse disputes that much still needs to be done to be able to play. But, Schaay Emphasizes, The Concerns About The Future Are Not For Today. “We can Celebrate and Unwind Today. I am only 51 years old, but I am convinced that I look older today.”
A Few Hours Later, Schaay Sees Up Close What The Return of Vitesse Unleashes. When he walks onto the korenmarkt, he is recurred like a hero. Thousands of People in Yellow and Black Shirts Sing Club Songs. ” Vitesse till I die! ” Sounds Several Times on a Festive Day for Arnhem.