That Pierre van Hooijdonk Dick Advocaat in Studio Football recently called ‘old school’, did not go down well with the 73-year-old trainer. The NOS has invited Advocaat to sit down as an analyst around the European Championship next summer, but he ignored this request. In an interview with it NRC Handelsblad Lawyer says ‘not to sit there with Van Hooijdonk’.
“I wonder what he bases that on. We have the most modern people walking around here, who present all kinds of data to me. He (Van Hooijdonk, ed.) Does not know that, because I never see him here, ”says Lawyer when confronted with Van Hooijdonk’s ruling. “It irritates me. I had an invitation from the NOS to do something there as an analyst about the European Football Championship this summer, I canceled that. I will not sit there with Van Hooijdonk. ”
Lawyer will retire at the end of the season and also has offers to start working as an analyst for Ziggo Sport and Football International. “I’m not going to get bored, I’m not afraid of it at all,” emphasizes the trainer. He is ‘not at all afraid’ of being forgotten. “As long as my loved ones don’t forget about me, I’m fine. I would be uncomfortable if the last game was here soon, and they wanted to say goodbye to me. I would prefer to walk to the other side, to my car, and be gone. ”
Recognition abroad is greater, says Advocaat. “I have been national coach of the Dutch national team three times. I don’t advertise that, but who can say that? I think let them all chat. Three times national coach, will never happen again, believe me ”, says the trainer. Yet Advocaat does not feel it as a relief that he is quitting now. “No, because I thought it was a beautiful world. Of course I could have stopped a long time ago, but I still liked it when I got a call again. Feyenoord, before that FC Utrecht. If only it could be driven. ”