“Michels called to say he could use a cheap water carrier”

“Thomas, what do you think of the United States?” asks Rinus Michels with his characteristic accent. Thomas is Thomas Rongen, who at the time plays football for amateur club AFC and has almost completed his training at CIOS. Almost prepared for a professional life in physical education. With Michels, he’s on a plane across the ocean for a series of games against the United States Olympic team.

Three months later, Michels is on the phone asking if Rongen wants to join him at the Los Angeles Aztecs. “He called to say he could use another cheap water carrier. I immediately had to say yes or no when asked if I wanted to sign a thousand dollar a month contract. I I thought: I have already saved for my trip, but Either way, the club will pay for my flight. I thought it would still be a great one-year adventure, but it’s been 45 years now and I’m still living in the United States”, he tells our employee Tim Beck. in ELF Voetbal 6/7, the summer special with the theme Op Reis. Through this link easy to order online. Within two to three working days at home.

He talks about his adventure in the North American Soccer League. “I suddenly had to eliminate George Best from the game… When I played in Fort Lauderdale, I was in the room with Gerd Müller because I spoke good German. A wonderful time in a beautiful country, because every state is a country I think it’s great to drive through Texas for three hours and not meet anyone, but I love the bustle of New York just as much,” after which he recounts how he lived with the Cruyff family in Washington. and the adventures they had together.

Rongen explains why he stayed in the United States when the NASL collapsed and how he rose through the ranks to become assistant national coach and head coach of the Olympic team. And of course his bizarre adventure as national coach of American Samoa. “Before I even knew where it was, I had already said yes. A great adventure and a great island to live and work for a few weeks, but there is also a reality of high unemployment, high obesity rates and people who walk away from the You can do it if you’re good at American football or if you enlist.”

He also explains why he went to church every day as an atheist, the particular culture of the people and the first transgender to play for the national team. And of course the documentary made by Disney about his adventure there. “The reason Disney put money into it is because they think it can win Emmys and Oscars. Awesome!” His future is also discussed and what is missing in Amsterdam.

The full article with Thomas Rongen can be read in the summer edition of ELF Voetbal. Issue 6/7 is themed Op Reis in which we shine the spotlight on the pioneers of Dutch football. Interviews with supreme adventurer André Krul who has played on five continents and now also wants to tick off Africa, with Ricky van Wolfswinkel who has scored in many countries and with goalkeeper Steven van Dijk who is active in the Faroe Islands. But also with Pieter de Jongh alias The Champ who is adored in Africa and now trains in Malawi. Ex-Dutch England striker David Loggie talks about his career and Alexander Bannink spent more than three hours in the car every day for two consecutive years training or playing football at FC Gütersloh. Also a travel guide in which six Dutch people talk about the city where they are active and an overview of the Dutch people by continent.

ELF Football 6/7 fell on the doormat with subscribers. The edition can be found on the shelves of well-known supermarkets, (office) bookstores and travel locations such as Dutch airports and train stations. The edition can also be ordered online. Through this link it happened. Within two to three days at home. Subscribing is very easy. Each edition automatically in the mailbox. Through this link closed in an instant. Choose your own welcome gift! Good reading!