'If the coach had shouted at me like he did at Frenkie, I wouldn't have kicked a ball right'

Former Willem II player Haemhouts recalls young Frenkie de Jong's early days, praising his composure under a demanding coach.

Robbie Haemhouts has shared memories of watching Frenkie de Jong's early career at Willem II's first team. Haemhouts recalled how de Jong would immediately catch the eye with his technical ability, particularly his willingness to dribble from the back—a trait that would later define his play at Ajax and Barcelona.

Trainer Jurgen Streppel was frequently frustrated by de Jong's unconventional approach, shouting instructions from the sideline. Haemhouts reflected on the tension between the coach's demands and de Jong's obvious talent, noting that the young player seemed to possess an almost unshakeable self-belief. "It seemed like he thought: you can shout whatever you want at me, but I know I'm the best," Haemhouts said.

What struck Haemhouts most was de Jong's mental resilience. At 29 years old himself at the time, Haemhouts admitted that if a coach had shouted at him the way Streppel did at de Jong, he would have lost his composure entirely. The anecdote illustrates de Jong's early maturity and confidence, qualities that would serve him well in his later career.