Rob Jansen shares an anecdote that points to a PSV icon
1 min readOn 29 April 2007, Phillip Cocu, as captain of PSV, scored maybe the most important goal of his playing career against Vitesse. Thanks to Cocu’s 5-1, PSV were, on the final day of the 2006/2007 season, crowned champions after beating AZ and Ajax.
After the 2006/2007 season, the former midfielder decided to leave PSV and seek his fortune in the United Arab Emirates. There, Cocu played one more season for Al-Jazira before then ending his career in 2008.
Agent Rob Jansen, a regular guest on the podcast KieftJansenEgmondGijp, tells in that same podcast an anecdote about Marc Overmars in which Cocu’s name also comes up. Overmars wanted to play one more year of football and reached out to Jansen for possible clubs.
''Marc Overmars who said to me: ‘Yes, I do want to go back to playing football for a bit, because I want to earn some money again and can you arrange it?’ But he had already stopped. I said: 'Well then', his knee wasn’t exactly doing great. 'But I’ll do my best''', the agent recalls.
In the end Jansen managed to connect with Al-Jazira, and at that time Cocu was working for that club. “So I say: ‘Phillip, come on, we’re coming over with all of us. All the women went too. Let’s just make it a fun trip.’ And then Marc goes along to train,” Jansen still remembers.
At the first training session, Cocu was surprised. ''Marc also said he would take part, and Marc ran his own completely out of breath, and he went from right to left over that pitch and I was just watching and I saw Philip on that pitch saying: 'Oh my god, you really shouldn't be doing that anymore''', the agent said.
''On the one hand, that sounds funny, but on the other hand, of course, it’s not really funny at all. Because for Marc, such a big player, such an enormous career. And then you still think that that’s possible,'' Jansen continues.
Ultimately, the club in the UAE did not go through with hiring Overmars, and the former footballer could ultimately live with that just fine. ''He still wanted a contract. He wanted to play for another year. He didn’t make a big issue of it for the rest, and he was relaxed, and then he went back home again. It was still a fun trip with all of us together. We also laughed a bit'', concludes the agent.
Comments6
The part where Jansen says Cocu looked like "must you not do it" is so telling 👀. Marc clearly had goals, but you wonder if clubs shouldnt have pushed for medical reality instead of vibes.
Overmars asking for "nog een contract" and still being "relaxed" is peak attitude, but the knee concern is not a joke. If PSV had that kind of hunger back then, we probably never wouldve stopped cooking.
Cocu die in 2007 beslissend was, en dan later nog weer als "naam die terugkomt" bij Overmars... mooie PSV-lijn van verhalen. Tbh wel pijnlijk als je hoort dat Overmars nog dacht dat zijn knie dat allemaal wel trok.
Cocu right there as the calm professional while Overmars runs like hes 25 again. Fairytale trip, but i hope his knee was actually fine. You can tell the respect in how Jansen tells it.
"Marc ging ook meedoen" is wild 😂. Tbh i kinda get why Cocu was like "oh my god, that must you not do anymore", but still, Overmars was pure drive.
That Cocu 5-1 header still gives me chills. Imagine ending the season with that goal, then years later hearing Overmars-Jansen stories where Cocu pops up again. PSV legend connecting eras, love it.