Feyenoord was close to the arrival of Jan Paul van Hecke last winter break. The 22-year-old defender was about to make the switch to De Kuip on a rental basis. Van Hecke liked a temporary adventure in De Kuip, but his current club Brighton & Hove Albion FC did not cooperate.
”Arne Slot had called me a few times. We had very good conversations and he convinced me to come to Feyenoord”, says the former player of NAC Breda in conversation with Football International. Trauner was injured and Feyenoord wanted to hire me. I had a good feeling, because Slot wanted to bring me to AZ as a player from NAC Breda. He had watched several of my matches and came up with a detailed analysis. He thought I was much improved and not as grumpy as I used to be. And he saw that I had become stronger in the game on the ball.”
”Slot insisted on a Dutchman. Then you think: A top club, at the top of the Eredivisie, still active in the cup tournament and they play European football. If you can play there, it gives a boost…” The English club thought otherwise. The club didn’t want it. And for a reason. Then you can jump high or low, but it’s not going to happen. And now you see what happens. I’m getting closer and closer, we’re going to play more games, fight for a ticket to the Champions League and play the quarter-finals of the FA Cup. Then I’m just in a good place.”
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