Dutch goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg has shared how manager Felix Magath tried to bully him at Fulham, leading to his agent turning to the SAS.
Soccer News report comments from the former Fulham goalkeeper today during an appearance on the on the podcast 1 op 1 with Rob Jansen.
Fulham problems
The website explains that problems between Maarten Stekelenburg and Felix Magath began in 2014 during an international break.
The goalkeeper was in Paris, enjoying a few days off, when all Fulham players received a message that the German had been appointed. Alongside that, they had been ordered to return to the club in the morning for their first training session.
Stekelenburg thought it was a joke, so contacted teammate John Heitinga, who was also staying in Paris at the time. The pair decided not to return immediately, starting an issue between the pair.
That then developed when Magath started to overwork the Fulham squad.
“We mainly had to do a lot of walking, around the entire complex. That took half an hour, and Magath would cycle along on the inside,” the goalkeeper explained.
Fulham training decision
Magath also had an ironclad rule that there were no days off following a defeat. Stekelenburg went against this, demonstratively dropping out of the group to work at his own pace.
“Well, if you want me to stop balls this weekend, I am a goalkeeper, then you shouldn’t make me do this. Because this isn’t going to help me, and ultimately not you either,” he told the German coach.
Magath seemingly reacted calmly, but then the issues began. The following day, Stekelenburg discovered his name had been removed from the dressing room. The kit man had been ordered to take his personal belongings out of his locker.
An assistant manager then told the goalkeeper he had been ‘banished’ and would not be allowed to train, with the youth goalkeeping coach, until afternoon.
Agent hires the SAS
The Dutchman contacted his agent, Rob Jansen. He, in turn, hired an expert from the British Army’s special services to help the Dutchman.
“He told me that no matter what they throw at you and how badly they want to hurt you, I always had to smile back. They could take everything from me except my money,” Stekelenburg explained.
But Magath’s psychological warfare continued. The goalkeeper was repeatedly summoned for 8am, only to be told training was in the afternoon and he could go home. He was also denied access to the player’s car park.
He eventually left at the end of the season, joining Monaco on loan. And he admits he was overjoyed at the move.
“But I was overjoyed to be able to leave; I had a fantastic year there,” he concluded.
