The bitter farewell to Club icon Van den Brom

John van den Brom was on the couch as head coach of Vitesse on Friday evening for the (provisional) last time. He would have preferred to continue at ‘his’ club, but yesterday he was told the painful message that the club leaders want to see another trainer for the group.

“Tonight everything came together: a good game, the absolute will to win, the fantastic support of the audience,” sums an emotional Van den Brom after the won duel with FC Den Bosch (3-1). “Then you can only be proud of those guests and your staff.”

Van den Brom entered Vitesse last summer, which was not even sure of the professional license at that time; Let alone that there was a fully -fledged selection. The trainer from Amersfoort stuck out his neck and still started working on his childhood love.

“I am very proud of this season, how in difficult circumstances from scratch we had to create a team with players who did not even know each other,” says Van den Brom. Despite all the progression of that team, he was told yesterday that he should leave as a trainer.

“Very often I asked about my future, but they didn’t know it every time,” says Van den Brom. “Well, yesterday we walked a bit on Papendal and that was not a big round I have to say. Of course you ask why, but actually you don’t even listen …”

The Vitesse audience joined Van den Brom on Friday evening during his last game as head coach. Several times they sang the name of the club icon, which as a player played for the Arnhemmers for a total of eleven years and was also head coach in an earlier period.

“Today was very emotional, which started this morning with all the reactions when the news became known. I am also an emotional guy, so I can’t handle that well. I can’t get rid of that very well all day with a lump in my throat.”

Is that how a club should deal with an icon? Van den Brom: “I have had a lot of messages in which that question was pronounced. But it is what it is. I have not regretted my choice for Vitesse for a second, I wish this club everything. And especially the players.”

What the trainer puts is that he has never had an evaluation with the club management in the meantime. “Never, never. Of course we spoke to each other, but never football in terms of football. Communication is not the strongest point of this club at the moment … That must be removed, because this club does not deserve that.”

On Saturday the selection and staff of Vitesse will eat with each other, then Van den Brom goes on vacation. “Emptying the head, because a lot has happened.”

The agent of John van den Brom spoke shame of Vitesse’s decision.