Vacancy at Orange? “I want to conquer that position as soon as possible”

Crysencio Summerville is working hard at Leeds United. The 21-year-old from Rotterdam appears weekly on the scoresheet in the Premier League this season and is regularly important the Peacocks. This week, Summerville returned to the selection of the Dutch Juniors. Football zone the fast right winger spoke about his adventures in England, the training camp of the Dutch reserves in Spain and receiving compliments from a football legend like Willem van Hanegem.

By Wessel Antes

Where Summerville had to miss the previous international matches of the Dutch Juniors due to injuries, the wing fitter is present again in San Pedro del Pinatar. The call from national coach Erwin van de Looi caused joy in Northern England last week. “It feels very good to be here, it’s slightly different from club football. With the Juniors we are preparing for the youth European Championship, so it’s nice to be with the best guys from your class. to be able to focus on new objectives. It’s always nice to see everyone again.”

The ambitious winger was not worried about a possible call-up due to his good performance at Elland Road. “To be honest, not really, no. In the end you depend on the choices of the national coach, so there’s little point in worrying about that anyway. I don’t care about that and just do my best on the field , that’s all I can do. If you work hard and perform well at the club, the reward will follow automatically. That has now been proven again. You have to earn it yourself and I did that at Leeds”

Leeds are currently in fourteenth place in the Premier League, but the past six months have regularly brought stress. For example, manager Jesse Marsch, who has given Summerville many opportunities, was fired in February. “Every game I get to play in the Premier League is instructive, especially at my age. It’s important to continue to enjoy that too. Our team performance wasn’t always great, but you can see that we compete every week as a team for enforcement,” concludes Summerville, who can provide a good return.

The attacker received 1,011 official playing minutes at the highest level in England this season, spread over twenty appearances. Summerville was good for four goals and two assists. The speed demon experienced his absolute peak so far in October last year at Anfield. With a goal in the 89th minute, Summerville gave his club a 1-2 win over Liverpool. “Every time I see that goal I get goosebumps. I scored the goal a few hours before my 21st birthday, which made it extra special. I don’t know if I can give myself such a nice birthday present again soon. Unforgettable. I think that when I’m a grandpa, I still look back on it.”

After the departure of taste maker Raphinha to Barcelona, ​​shirt number 10 became available in Leeds. The club attracted players for more than a hundred million euros last summer, but gave the beautiful back number to Summerville. “The club management told me that there is a lot of confidence in my qualities. I have that confidence myself, but those words from the club were reinforced by giving that number. I think it is a great honor that at my age I have the number 10 gets to play at such a great folk club.” Summerville extended his contract until mid-2026 at Elland Road in August.

Summerville in ecstasy after his winning goal for Leeds at Anfield.

Just like with Leeds, Summerville fits well within the Dutch Juniors group. “I didn’t know everyone yet, because a few new guys have joined. I know other players very well, so it’s always nice to see each other after a long time. I can be found a lot with Joshua Zirkzee, Ludovit Reis, Ian Maatsen, Mitchell Bakker and Ryan Gravenberch. Playing cards, sunbathing and talking about life.” Summerville has fond memories of many boys. “Zirkzee, Wouter Burger and Quilindschy Hartman were my teammates at Feyenoord for years. That’s why it’s always nice to see each other again and to relive old times.”

Summerville went through several youth teams of Orange. He will never forget the title win at the European Under 17 Championship in 2018. “That was a very nice experience, my first time European champion, led by Kees van Wonderen, he really is a top trainer. I was able to learn a lot from him, both on and off the field.” The current head coach of sc Heerenveen had a talented crop at his disposal that year, with boys like Gravenberch, Jurriën and Quinten Timber, Mohamed Ihattaren and Brian Brobbey in addition to Summerville.

The youth tournament in England also provided Summerville with tangible memories. “The medal from then hangs at my mother’s house in the Netherlands. I framed the shirt of the final myself in my own home in England. I always like to keep things like that, because they are all memories.” Summerville may play another youth European Championship next summer, when the Dutch Juniors travel to Georgia. The fact that a number of boys have experience winning an international final tournament is very important, the right leg thinks. “If I may speak for myself, I think it helps. Because of that title win, I know how things can go in such a tournament. You should see every match as a final. I will always carry that baggage with me. “

Summerville has already played a total of 32 youth international matches for the Orange and was ten times accurate.

While Summerville is in Spain with the Dutch Juniors, the Dutch national team will start qualifying for the European Championship in 2024 this week. According to Van Hanegem, the winger could at least have been in the pre-selection of national coach Ronald Koeman. “That lad has improved so much over there at Leeds United and he has something that isn’t really in the squad yet – speed, agility and the ability to play a man out,” he said. the Curve record in his column in the General Journal.

“I don’t normally read news, but this was forwarded to me,” Summerville reveals. “I thought it was beautiful to read, super beautiful. I really appreciate it from Mr. Van Hanegem, that’s what I do it for. Words like that give me the motivation to work even harder and prove myself even more.” The right wing position is currently still open with the Dutch national team, but Summerville had not counted on anything. “Everything has to fall into place. If the national coach thinks it’s time, I’ll join in naturally. I’ll make sure I’m ready. Ultimately, I want to conquer that position as soon as possible. The big Orange is for everyone’s dream of course.”

After the exhibition games against Young Norway and Young Czech Republic, the focus is again on Leeds, but next summer there may also be wonderful international opportunities. Not only the youth European Championship is on the schedule, because the big Orange also plays a wonderful final tournament in Rotterdam, Summerville’s birthplace, with the Final Four of the Nations League. “It would be great to be there, especially in my own city of course. You always have to keep dreaming big. It’s up to me to show it every day on the field. Ultimately, the national coach will make a choice, but it would be great to play in the Nations League.”