Ronald Koeman junior made crucial saves Friday night in Telstar’s victory over FC Den Bosch in the playoff semi-finals for promotion. The thirty-year-old goalkeeper feels appreciated at Telstar and is fitter than ever.
If his father Ronald keeps his word, he will include Ronald Koeman junior in the Dutch national team squad next week for the World Cup qualifying matches against Finland and Malta.
“He told me he would select me if I kept two clean sheets against ADO Den Haag (earlier in the play-offs, ed.). Well, I did that,” Koeman junior joked Friday night on ESPN. “It’s time he selected me once. What more do I have to do than I’m doing now?”
The statements by Koeman and Koeman junior are logically meant ironically. That does not alter the fact that Koeman junior made a positive impression again at Telstar on Friday evening on his thirtieth birthday – under the watchful eye of his father.
The goalkeeper made great saves, including on a dangerous shot by Ilias Boumassaoudi in the final phase of the match. With that he prevented the 2-2. “That was nice,” said Koeman. “But Danny Bakker’s winning goal was the moment of the match for me.”
‘Appreciation is nice from time to time’
Modesty characterizes Koeman, who as the son of a former top football player prefers not to be in the spotlight anyway. Since he made his debut in professional football in 2016, there has been above-average attention for Koeman because of his last name.
He doesn’t always find that easy. “I feel like I sometimes have to run a little harder because of my last name,” he says. “For example, in elections for Player of the Year or nominations for prizes. That’s not always easy. Appreciation is nice from time to time.”
There is sufficient reason for appreciation this season. Koeman has kept fifteen clean sheets in all competitions this year, the most ever in one season in his career. In the play-offs he succeeded in three of the four duels.
According to his trainer Anthony Correia, Koeman has developed into an excellent goalkeeper. “I think we have one of the best goalkeepers in the competition this season, if he isn’t the best,” Correia said Friday night. “I was a bit nervous about that last chance, but Ronald had a Match Winning Save in store.”
‘Lost Ten Telve Kilos’
The fact that Koeman can make those kinds of saves is inextricably linked to the fact that he is fitter than he was a few years ago. “I’ve lost about ten to twelve kilos compared to a year ago. I feel great.”
“I owe the weight loss to my girlfriend. Or has she stopped cooking? No, she cooks for me and helps me with it. In addition, I am now a good age for a goalkeeper. I am thirty years old. As a goalkeeper you are then in the prime of your football life.”
Koeman may be able to show his skills in the Eredivisie next year, if he is promoted to the highest level with Telstar. But ‘De Witte Leeuwen’ must first get through the final matches against FC Dordrecht or Willem II.
“If I keep two clean sheets in those matches and he (Ronald Koeman, ed.) doesn’t select me then…”, Koeman jokes. “No, I know that I first have to play in the Eredivisie to ever be eligible for that. That is definitely a goal for me.”