Surprising choice Frank de Boer: ‘Those people were so positive about everything’

Frank de Boer surprisingly went to Al Jazira in the United Arab Emirates earlier this month. Agent Guido Albers tells in #DoneDeal, the transfer podcast of VoetbalPrimeur, that the ex-coach of Ajax became enthusiastic about the stories.

De Boer succeeds Marcel Keizer. It is his first job since his departure from Orange in the summer of 2021. “In the end, he consciously chose to do nothing for quite a long period of time. It always has an impact if you work somewhere and it doesn’t go further,” says Albers in #DoneDeal.

For De Boer, however, it was never an option not to return as a trainer. “If you know Frank, he’s a real enthusiast. He worked for UEFA, he worked for Viaplay. He wanted to stay involved in football that way. The momentum was alone, where do you step in? In the Netherlands, that of course just Ajax, but there was no chance.”

𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗘 𝗪𝗘 𝗚𝗢! @FabrizioRomano 🗣️#دي_بور_جزراوي 🇳🇱#DeBoerAnnounced 🇳🇱 pic.twitter.com/10ERi6hu7e

— نادي الجزيرة (@aljazirafc) June 5, 2023

The former international was very successful with the team from Amsterdam in the past, but Sven Mislintat no longer knocked on his door. “I think that the new technical director has deliberately chosen to take a different path. And not to continue on what was in the past. That has meant that Frank was not asked in any case.”

“Then you look around. Where else do I fit?”, Albers continues. “So far nothing has come of which he thought: I want to do that at all costs.” Al Jazira did attract him. “This came his way and he was enthusiastic. He made some inquiries with people who have already worked there. And they were all so positive. About safety, life. The level is not super bad either, it’s just Eredivisie football they play there.”

De Boer will be at the helm in the Emirates for the next two years. “First Alfred signed (Schreuder went to work at Al Ain, ed.) And now Frank has also signed. He is looking forward to it. Marcel Keizer has given fantastic feedback about this club, so he is going for it.”

Listen to the latest episode of #DoneDeal the podcast now!