Henk Fraser considers it an honor that Louis van Gaal has asked him to become his assistant at the Dutch national team. The trainer of Sparta Rotterdam said last week with a wink ‘with a color’ to fit the sought-after profile, but does not think that is an issue at all. “I don’t think in color, origin, religion or gender,” Fraser says in conversation with The Telegraph.
Fraser denounces ‘the whine about opportunities’. “That may sound idealistic, but it just doesn’t play in my life,” said the trainer. “I also do not want to be a part of such discussions, because it does not fit into my life. No one should be excluded from me. Now also. Despite all well-intentioned opinions and advice: I do something when I think I have to That is independent of color or maybe being overqualified, because they are supposedly looking for a colored trainer. That this is nonsense in my case? It is named. But it remains my choice. I leave the discussion to others. You know : if people see it in you, then you will get that chance. And if not, then not.”
In the mid-eighties, Fraser and Van Gaal were teammates for two seasons while playing for Sparta. Remarkably, Van Gaal knew nothing about this when he recently approached Fraser. “I didn’t really leave a good impression at the time,” Fraser laughs. “He couldn’t remember me. I said, ‘Damn I even went to that European game at Hamburger SV.'”
After his playing career, Fraser went through a gradual path towards the head coach. First he was a youth trainer at Feyenoord for eight years, two years at PSV and then an assistant to the Dutch Juniors. In recent years he has worked successfully at Sparta, which he led to eleventh and eighth place respectively in the last two seasons. “I don’t flaunt it,” Fraser says. “I see that others may sell themselves better: ‘I have achieved this and that.’ Maybe I should do better. But that’s not in me. Ultimately, I think performance and quality speak for themselves.” In May, Fraser extended his contract at Het Kasteel until mid-2024.
Based on those performances, Fraser was approached by Van Gaal. “What do I think? Everyone would consider it an honor to join the Dutch national team and that also applies to me,” says Fraser. “If someone like Van Gaal asks you, I notice that also has an impact on other people. But it doesn’t change the insight about myself. I don’t want to sound arrogant, but I also don’t want to put myself down. In the meantime I’m thinking something within Dutch football.”
It is the intention that Fraser will combine his work at Sparta with that at the Dutch, although the Rotterdammers have yet to give their yes. Fraser saw his team go down somewhat surprisingly on Friday in an exhibition game with NAC Breda. Ralf Seuntjes and Kaj de Rooij gave the Brabanders the lead early in the game, after which Tom Beugelsdijk’s goal against was not enough to prevent a defeat: 2-1.