Arsene Wenger has hinted that Andries Jonker’s appointment as Arsenal’s Academy director will help the club secure more top young talent from European powerhouses Holland and Germany.
The Dutchman, who has considerable experience developing youth coaching strategies in both countries, will succeed Liam Brady in the summer with Wenger looking forward to the ‘international dimension’ the 51-year-old brings to the table.
“What interests us more is the experience he has at a youth level, where he spent the biggest part of his life,” the manager told Arsenal Player.
“The spells [with] first teams help you to know what is requested at the top level. He has good international experience and experience of organising youth team programmes.
“We had many good candidates and he’s the one who can bring an international dimension to the academy because you know that we want to put a big emphasis on youth development – where we are already strong.
“I must say that we have a history of very good work, of quality work here at the academy. He’s at the right age and has the right experience to continue to expand that. He has worked in Holland, he has worked in Germany so he can help us to extend that work.”
Arsenal are obviously no stranger to the international market with the club (seemingly cyclically) targeting youngsters from France, Spain, Holland and increasingly Germany to bolster their home-grown ranks.
That being said so developed are the scouting networks of all the top European teams and so competitive the race to sign potential talents it’s hardly surprising that Jonker’s little black book of international contacts has worked in his favour.
For more insight into Jonker’s career to date, this Evening Standard profile is worth a read.
He better bring through some decent talent. Otherwise I’m going to stab some cunts.
Crikey!
I’m fairly certain that no matter how many posts you send, that is never going to be an actual saying
Stop watching spartacus
Hahahaha, was literally just on that article
have to admit… it does get funnier
Succession planning by Arsene?
Would love him to andries the under 18s problem. why are they struggling so much? it’s become a jonk!
Is it me or every post you make gets an awful lot of red thumbs?
I guess it’s because of the bad puns.
Very true. I read somewhere recently (probably the Jorge Bird site) that they haven’t won a game since August, and the under-21s aren’t looking too brilliant either – we put out a strong side this week against Liverpool’s unknown kids (well, I’d never heard of any of them) and got thumped. We’ve got into the habit of thinking of our academy as one of the best in Europe because of the occasional high-profile talents that emerge from it, but the league tables have been suggesting for some years that overall there’s plenty of room for improvement. Last year we only… Read more »
While I definitely do not look much into the youth aspect of the club, I don’t really believe there is a causal link between U18’s squads doing poorly and quality of graduates when for example Serge Gnabry is 18 and is in the first-team squad. While there should of course be something wrong with the team there, I can’t see how it corresponds to our academy as a whole seeing as Arsenal have produced the most top 5 leagues players among English teams.
Hopefully DB10 is next to join
That would fecking brilliant if bergkamp (GOD) joined as well!
Wasn’t he gonna stay in Holland forever now? I mean I hope not, but he should really fix that fear of flying
never understood why we didn’t just drug him, Mr. T style and just sneak him on the plane…
Quit yo jibber jabber.
Bergkamp ain’t no fool, fool.
I ain’t gettin in no plane!
Ah, a glass of milk, why thank-you Templeton……. zzzzzzzzz
As someone often too lazy to click links I’d say the standard article is worth the effort. Arsenal must have been happy this guy applied. Perhaps they snuck ‘must have managed Bayern Munich’ into the job application to discourage time wasters.
This idea of targeting Euro Youths is something that I believe should be done in a grander scale as the talent poll in the UK is dwindling by the day. Politicians should take a leaf from Arsenal’s book and target a true universal global suffrage. How would it be if people from all European countries no all over the world were allowed to vote during elections in all countries. Who would be the PM of England? I wonder if Wycleff Jean will be the president of Haiti or Adebayor the president of Togo? And if anybody from any part of… Read more »
Half way through, didn’t even need to look at the name, I knew it was you Bishop. Keep it up, I always enjoy these.
Does anyone ever wonder what would happen if Bishop & Ramblin Pete ever met up for a casual pint after work?
I do. A lot.
One thing is certain, it will be a monologue where I will come along with a pen and paper to get some tips from Pete who is a professor in the art of Rambling.
Jonker in yay
Rambler wannabe
true
The future’s bright, the future’s Oranje
Nahh, Arsenal will never be talent producing machines of Ajax and Barcelona. But a Wilshere every 2-3 years wouldn’t be too bad
England has got many big clubs in many cities. Except for London, where there is only one BIG CLUB.
The youth teams are put together to produce those one in a million players as well as get players used to the Arsenal way. If they all play well together and get good results that is a positive side note. A great U 21st team does not necessarily mean anyone of them will make a great first team player. Just saying..
Don’t we already have the 4th best academy in europe? It seems that Brady has already laid a strong foundation. I’d be happy enough if the new guy is just a Jonker version of him.
Yeh thanks, that’s my coat.