Frank Arnesen is starting yet another adventure, this time at Feyenoord.
The vastly experienced 63 year old will be tasked with helping the Rotterdam club back to the heights of Dutch football, and providing meaningful competition to Ajax.
De Telegraaf are covering the move, and have spoken to Piet de Visser, a long-time advisor to Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich.
The Dutch newspaper says De Visser is ‘still proud’ at how he took Arnesen from London rivals Tottenham.
In 2004, Spurs appointed the sporting director, but the following year they suspended him after he made it clear he wanted to lave Tottenham for Chelsea.
De Visser has explained Abramovich wanted to make him the man in charge of all of Chelsea’s youth development, however, the scout didn’t feel up to the task and recommended someone he thought was.
“Then I said: ‘Roman, are you crazy? I’m a scout.’
“But I do know the perfect man who can manage your entire youth education. That’s Frank Arnesen.”
De Visser’s problem was that Arnesen was under contract with Tottenham, and Chelsea had to wait to get their man.
He feels it was worth it and has benefitted the Blues since: “So many youth players have come. They may not all have had the chance, but the academy was completely designed by Frank and provided with a lot of talent. We searched for them in all parts of the world. It helped that he himself has a huge network internationally.”
