Kees van Wonderen: You can only improve if you push one another to be better

The 55-year-old’s first few hours after officially joining the club were spent talking to numerous people. He felt it was important to quickly get to know his coaches and staff members, as well as to plan training and everything that comes with it. “The whole club has made a good impression on me,” said van Wonderen. “The people are very professional and that has given me a good feeling. I was also impressed by the atmosphere at the stadium. I could sense how big this club is throughout the 90 minutes.”

Analysed every game this season

The match against Hertha wasn’t the first S04 game that van Wonderen had seen. “I watch a lot of football and have therefore seen every FC Schalke 04 match so far this season,” he revealed. The Dutchman then analysed each match more closely once Ben Manga got in contact with him around two weeks ago. “I studied the defensive and attacking patterns, set pieces and the quality of individual players,” listed van Wonderen, adding that he’s learnt a lot of important things already.

During Monday’s training session (7/10), which saw a number of fans in attendance, van Wonderen showed his knowledge of the Schalke squad. The coach knew the name of every single player, including those that hadn’t even played a game yet this season. “I think it’s important,” explained the former Dutch international, who played against Germany at the Parkstadion back in 1998. “I can still remember it,” he stated. “The game ended 1-1 and I swapped shirts with Andreas Möller afterwards.”

A team player aiming for a positive future

Van Wonderen describes himself as a team player: “I’m the one with the responsibility, but we will do everything as a team, that’s important to me. I’ve got a good feeling about the group,” said the coach at his first press conference at the VELTINS-Arena. “Robert Molenaar (the new assistant coach) and I have known each other for a while. He was a head coach himself for a few years and had an impressive playing career.” Van Wonderen therefore believes the former defender, who spent six years in England, will be a good addition to the coaching team.

When asked about his aims as Schalke head coach, van Wonderen explained that his main one was to play a role in a positive and successful future for the club. “That’s what every footballer wants, including myself,” he said. The 55-year-old wants to use the coming two weeks before the next league game to get his new team playing the way he wants to, though he knows that won’t happen overnight. “It’s important that we have a good structure. We need a little bit of time to achieve that, even if I know you generally don’t have much time in football.”

The fact he didn’t get pre-season with the team and has taken over in October during the campaign is definitely a challenge, he acknowledges. “I like it. I don’t want any easy tasks. It’s important for me to have a challenge and that’s what I’ve got here. I can identify with this role.”

Van Wonderen added to that statement by quoting a former colleague. “Joop Munsterman (FC Twente’s former sporting director) always said: ‘If you don’t want to fall over, you have to get on the floor yourself.’ I’m always positive about every task and look for the opportunities.”

An eye for talent

The coach expects his team to be well organised at the back and to perform as a unit. Van Wonderen also enjoys working with youngsters, something he demonstrated when he won the UEFA European Under-17 Championship with the Netherlands in 2018. “I like to work with young players, but not just because they’re young and talented, but because they’re prepared to improve every day.”

This is something he doesn’t believe is dependent on age. “An older player can also give me this kind of energy. It’s important that everyone shows their willingness to work on themselves every day,” he demanded. As an example, he named former Schalke striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, who was always hungry for more. “If he’d scored three goals in a game but could have got a fourth, he was annoyed about it. Klaas-Jan Huntelaar was never satisfied, he always wanted more.”

The new head coach expects this same hunger from every player. “I told the lads that it’s a privilege to play for a club like this,” he added. “Competition for places is another factor. You can only improve if you push one another to be better and this is what we need.”