It was great. I was teaching at a primary school, mostly: my lessons took place in the morning and then I’d train in the afternoon. It was a bit of a juggling act, but I did it for 11 years while playing for Go Ahead Eagles and Vitesse. It was a good experience as you stay connected with the rest of society, and it also gave me some security in case things didn’t work out in football. At one point when I wasn’t making a lot of money, I was really considering quitting professional football – I’d already completed a transfer form to join Rohda Raalte, a local amateur side. But at the last minute I chose to stay at Go Ahead. Looking back now, it wasn’t a bad decision!
