The Greek National Head Coach speak with Discoveryfootball.com
Johannes Nicolaas Van`t Schip as his full name given the present as the federal technician of Greece in the draw of the qualifying phase of the 2nd Nations league, which was held in Amsterdam on 3 March 2020. He agreed to speak to the chief editor of Discoveryfootball.com Manos Staramopoulos for many things.
Van ‘t Schip was born in Fort St John, British Columbia, and was raised in Powell River, British Columbia, where he grew up playing youth football in the small community before his family moved back to the Netherlands in 1972. He began his career in the Ajax, youth academy.
Debuting for the first team in December 1981, he would spend the next 11 seasons with the club. During this period he became league champion in 1982, 1983, 1985, and 1990, and cup champion in 1983, 1986 and 1987. He also helped Ajax wins the 1987 European Cup Winner’s Cup and the 1992 UEFA Cup.
After Ajax’s UEFA Cup victory, he was bought by Italian team Genoa, where he played four seasons before finishing his career. He helped the club to lift 1996 Anglo-Italian cup. On the international level, Van ‘t Schip, a member of the Dutch squad at the 1983 FIFA World Youth Championship, was capped 41 times and scored two goals for the Dutch national team. His debut came against Scotland in April 1986, and his final match was a Euro qualifying match against Belarus in June 1995. Van ‘t Schip featured in the Euro 1988, 1990 FIFA World Cup and Euro 1992 tournaments
After retiring, Van ‘t Schip became a youth coach for Ajax and manager for Twente. From August 2004 he assisted Marco Van Basten in coaching the Dutch national team until Van Basten left the position of head coach following Euro 2008. Van ‘t Schip followed Van Basten to Ajax, becoming an assistant coach with Rob Witschge, for the 2008–09 season. On 6 May 2009, after Marco van Basten’s ‘s resignation, he was named as the interim head coach of Ajax and coached the club till the end of the season.
Since 2010 he has worked in teams: Melbourne Heart (Australia 2010-2012), Guadalajara (Mexico 2012-2013), Melbourne City (Australia 2013-2017), Pec Zwolle (2017-2018). Since July 2019 he has been coach of National Greece. Ladies and gentlemen, John Vant’ Schip.
DF: I think the draw is good, right?
«It’s definitely not bad. But we must be focused. First of all, we must study each opponent closely and then do the right tactics in order to prevail … We must not underestimate anyone … «
BREAKING!
Our @EthnikiOmada is drawn in Group 3 of League C and will face Kosovo, Slovenia and Moldova in the UEFA Nations League!
The group stages of the competition commences in September
Thoughts? pic.twitter.com/ITO7wQc6Ny
— Hellas Football (@HellasFooty) March 3, 2020
DF: John, which of these three opponents do you think that is the most difficult?
“ Although it is too early to talk about it, I would say that at first glance, Slovenia seems to be stronger. He has significant experience and some very good footballers (SS Oblak, Ilicic, Verbic, Beric etc.). Then Kosovo, which is a new team, will also need its special attention, as does Moldova … The point is that we are prepared to do our best and avoid crucial injuries … We have high-quality players. Consequently, our performance and readiness will judge the results. Another positive thing is that we will fight in countries close to Greece. As a result, we know their football philosophy and we will not have long, arduous journeys. We have the time needed for scouting and I believe that at the right time we will be ready for the Nations League matches that are the first phase of the «Qatar plan”.
DF: So I understand that the ultimate goal, and logically, is to qualify for the final stage of the World Cup in Qatar …
«Of course, our big goal, though we have a little time ahead, is to qualify for the final stage of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar».
At the same time, we have the actualization of the Champions League
DF: In front of us we have UEFA’s top product, the UEFA Champions League, which teams do you see coming up?
«There are still many matches, but I could say that Liverpool, who is also the holder of the title, and having secured the Premier League champions after 30 years, will try to keep the first place. To be honest, the next game against Atletico Madrid, which has prevailed in the first game at Metropolitano, will not be so easy. Moreover, we should not forget Bayern Munich, which looks a very good team and won easily Chelsea FC in London. And also no one can ignore Juventus, which is hunting for a big title.
Furthermore, we have the citizens of Manchester (Manchester City) , which has won in the Santiago Bernabeu will probably proceed to the next round and will chase the UEFA Champions League title, being its last resolve, having lost all chances for the Premier League Championship … Paris Saint-Germain will still be one of the main contenders for the title. It has world-class players like Neymar, Mpappe, Cavani who can drive it too high … And of course, no one can even talk about Barcelona, which may have some ups and downs in its performance, but remains one of the top teams and of course, Lionel Messi, which says a lot…
Thank you very much coach, good luck with your hard work !!!
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