Heerenveen Register First Ever Dutch KNVB Cup But McLaren Can Still Be Proud

Just what is it with the English and penalties?

Steve McLaren came within a penalty shootout of winning silverware with FC Twente in his first season in Dutch football this weekend. But no longer being associated with England did nothing to cure the dreaded penaltyitis, and McLaren’s side lost the game 5-4 on penalties after a 2-2 draw at De Kuip stadium in Rotterdam.

Since moving to Holland, Steve McLaren has done an excellent job of rebuiliding what became, quite unfairly, a shattered reputation. Ridiculed during his time as manager of the English national team, with little other than a brolly to shield him from the at times almost vicious stream of abuse and mocking, McLaren has gone quietly about the task of proving himself all over again, via a sojourn in the low-lying plains of the Netherlands. While there, the former Middlesbrough boss has ably demonstrated all the coaching abilities and tactical nous that made him a candidate for England’s top job in the first place.

At FC Twente McLaren has made his team not only difficult to beat but exciting to watch. His inherently Dutch attacking 4-3-3 system has won him great praise and, importantly, results. Twente have performed wonders this season in finishing second above the storied trinity of Feyenoord, Ajax and PSV, and winning the Dutch KNVB Cup would have put the campaign up there amongst the finest in the Entschede club’s history.

However it was not meant to be. Defeat on penalties may represent a bitter defeat for Twente fans and staff, but the promise of Champions League football next season offers hearty consolation to those fans and overall reflection on a fantastic season will doubtless keep disappointment from manifesting itself too long heading into the summer months.

As with all tales, for every loser there is a winner and in this case that winner is Frisian outfit Heerenveen. The club that counts Ruud Van Nistelrooy amongst it’s alumni won it’s first ever major trophy with victory over Twente, erasing the pain of losing twice previously in the KNVB Cup final to Ajax and Roda JC.

Gerald Sibon was the hero, scoring the winning goal in the shootout to send Heerenveen fans wild after Trond Sollied’s men had twice thrown away a lead in open play. But really every player in blue and white was a hero, and on Sunday night more than 20,000 elated Frisians welcomed the team home to celebrate. They have waited long enough for success. Sollied went on to describe his players’ efforts as ‘awesome.’ Goals from Goran Popov and Bonaventure Kalou put Heerenveen ahead at 1-0 and 2-1, but twice FC Twente fought back. First winger Eljero Elia equalised nine minutes into the second half, then Youssouf Hersi restored parity. Hersi however would go on to miss the decisive penalty.

So victory for Heerenveen, a first KNVB Cup in their long and proud history. As for Steve McLaren, he should be proud of the job he has done at Twente in year one and can now spend his summer either preparing the De Grolsch Veste for Champions League football next year, or eyeing up the Ajax prospectus that has reportedly been sent his way. A wally he most certainly ain’t.

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Dutch Football, FC Twente, Heerenveen, KNVB Cup, Steve McLaren