My dad is a former undercover agent and TV star who'll be cheering me on in Europa League final, says Tottenham star
The Dutch defender will have his old man watching him in Bilbao as Spurs look to end 17 years without silverware by beating Manchester United in tomorrow's
Advertisement
4
Micky van de Ven is out to end Tottenham's trophy drought
Credit: PA
4
Van De Ven's dad Marcel is former detective and TV star in the Netherlands
Credit: Twitter @ESPNUK
4
The Dutchman was written off as a teenager at Volendam
Credit: Getty
Marcel van de Ven is a former undercover agent who later became famous on the Dutch version of TV show Hunted.
Despite
Micky, 24, said: "Every game he was there, even when I was younger. You have to ask him how he managed that!
"Midweek, most of the time he was gone because he had a job to do and couldn't tell us everything about it.
Advertisement
READ MORE ON FOOTBALL
"But at the weekend when we had to play, the most important part, he was always there.
"Literally until today, he's everywhere. Every home game, every away game, he wants to be everywhere. He always tries to be there.
"It was my dad, my mum and my sister who were the ones who kept pushing me.
"Because even when you're younger, every year you get a new gaffer.
Advertisement
Most read in Football
Exclusive
BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK
"Then the people around you are the ones you are close with.
"Even now, these days after a game they help me. They're like, 'You could do this better or that better', they are still the people who help me."
How Europa League final will be decided - four key Man Utd vs Tottenham tactical battles
Marcel may have always backed his son's foray into football but Micky was not always so well supported by the professionals overseeing his development.
Advertisement
In fact, there was a feeling at his first club Volendam that a teenage Van de Ven did not have the ability to make it as a footballer.
It was only when former
And Van de Ven, also a Netherlands international, still uses being written off in his teens as motivation to succeed today.
On those that believed he would not make the grade, he added: "That's crazy.
Advertisement
"At Volendam there were people who didn't have the trust in me and now I am standing here. I proved them wrong."
We have all been standing behind Ange since day one, since he joined here.
Micky van de Ven
Van de Ven's Spurs defensive partner
Romero, nicknamed Cuti, went on to win the World Cup in Qatar in 2022 alongside the iconic Lionel Messi.
Tottenham ace Van de Ven continued: "There are a lot of players in their careers who get doubts from multiple people.
Advertisement
"It depends a bit on how late in your career you are getting doubts, of course.
"I was getting doubts when I was 17, 18 years old.
"Then you might have to think about something different. Then it's all down to yourself and the people around you to keep pushing.
"That's what Cuti probably did and that's what I did, and now we are both standing here.
Advertisement
"And Cuti won a World Cup. I am now in a European final. It's a beautiful thing."
4
Coaches at Volendam told van de Ven he wouldn't make the grade
Credit: Getty
Now Van de Ven is determined to change
He said: "It would be a big thing, of course.
Advertisement
"Everybody knows that when you join Tottenham you get, 'Ah, you're not going to win a trophy', people saying you will be trophyless for the rest of your career.
"All the guys that came up here were like, 'We're going to change something about this club'.
"It was the gaffer and it was the whole squad who said, 'We're going to come here and change something'.
"For us, it's the job now to make this happen in Bilbao."
Advertisement
Van de Ven could come up against his compatriot
De Ligt may only be a year older yet he is a hero to Van de Ven, who used to watch him play for
Ironically, it was Tottenham's unforgettable comeback win against Ajax in the 2019 Champions League semi-final —
Van de Ven explained: "The first thing that pops up in my head is the game against Tottenham.
Advertisement
"I was in the stadium. He was playing that game.
"These games I can remember are more from the Champions League when Ajax went to the semi-final. He was playing unbelievable.
"When you're a young kid, you're looking up at him — captain at 18 years old, doing an unbelievable job. Then you think, 'I want to be like him'."
Spurs have had an awful league campaign, with a record 21 defeats.
Advertisement
Even if they beat United, boss
Yet Van de Ven reckons the Aussie has proved his worth by taking the club to just its second European final in 41 years.
He added: "We have all been standing behind the gaffer since day one, since he joined here.
"He showed his quality, he brought us to a European final.
Advertisement
"Of course, he's getting a lot of doubt from the media and we see these things.
"But I think he proved all you guys wrong and we're standing in a European final, so hopefully we can lift the trophy. Not only for us but also for him."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Irish Sun
6 minutes ago
- The Irish Sun
Fans spot Arsenal's sneaky new tactic in Man Utd clash as Mikel Arteta seeks to manipulate new Premier League rule
Arsenal have scored incredible amount of goals from set-pieces in past few years COR-NER BLIMEY Fans spot Arsenal's sneaky new tactic in Man Utd clash as Mikel Arteta seeks to manipulate new Premier League rule FANS spotted Arsenal's sneaky new tactic in their Premier League clash against Manchester United. The two giants collided at Old Trafford on Sunday with plenty of new signings on show. 1 Fans spotted Arsenal's sneaky new tactic against Manchester United But there was also a fresh rule implemented in the game which had a major effect on Mikel Arteta's game plan. Under new legislation, goalkeepers are now required to release the ball after eight seconds or less. Should a stopper hang on to it for longer, the opposing team is awarded a corner. And set-piece king Arteta showed he was ready to immediately manipulate the rule with a cheeky new tactic. READ MORE IN FOOTBALL Oh-no-na Onana DROPPED by Amorim as Man Utd consider shock De Gea return In a bid to delay United from taking goal-kicks, Arsenal players took it in turns to block goalie Altay Bayindir whenever he had the ball. Their hope was to force the Turk to hold on to it, thereby passing the magic eight seconds to hand them a corner. Arsenal have scored 31 Prem goals from corners since the start of the 2023/24 season – 11 more than next nearest side Liverpool. And Arteta clearly saw it as a worthwhile effort to get an extra one or two of the set-pieces. BEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERS Unfortunately for the Gunners, referee Simon Hooper was smart to their game plan. And he made sure players stood away from Bayindir before starting the countdown on his watch. Man Utd vs Chelsea fan debate | Stoppage Time Fans were certainly left amused by Arsenal's behaviour. One said: 'The lengths being made for those marginal gains.' Another declared: 'Another year, Arsenal going to foul keepers and defenders on corners then.' One noted: 'Typical.' Another added: 'Trying to slow our goalie down for another corner.'
Irish Independent
36 minutes ago
- Irish Independent
‘We have a lot to take away with a young group and that's an exciting thing'
Ireland finished eighth and last after a 2-1 defeat against England, but avoided relegation with a revamped 2027 EuroHockey set to field more teams in London. Katie Mullan scored a superb chip either side of Tess Howard's deflected goal, off Sarah McAuley's stick, and Darcy Bourne caressing into an empty net to beat the advancing Holly Micklem, who had replaced the impressive Lizzie Murphy in goal for Ireland's final match. Ireland looked the better side in the first half before England were made to work for their win. It could have been a draw had time not run out on Caoimhe Perdue as she set for a shot with the last move of the match. 'You come away with a loss and you can feel down but 2-1 is close, we executed our gameplan and played a lot more hockey,' said McLoughlin. 'It's been an up and down tournament but we have a lot to take away with a young group and that's an exciting thing to come away from.' Ireland's next port of call will be competing in a first FIH Pro League, the start of a packed calendar over the next 12 months. This will also take in a World Cup qualifying event in late February. 'There is an awful lot on the table,' added McLoughlin, who will be one of nine players competing in the Belgian league next season. 'One of my messages at the end of the match was that we are going to be bitterly disappointed with this campaign, but we need to turn that into hunger to get better and be the team we know we can be.'
RTÉ News
an hour ago
- RTÉ News
Nottingham Forest prove too good for Keith Andrews' Brentford
Nottingham Forest made a mockery of Nuno Espirito Santo's pre-match worries as they beat Keith Andrews' Brentford in their opening game of the Premier League season. Nuno expressed his "concern" for the campaign ahead of the match, citing a lack of options in his squad, but he will feel better after a rampant display at the City Ground. After new signings Omari Hutchinson and James McAtee were unveiled before kick-off, their new team-mates put on a show as Chris Wood's double and a debut goal for Dan Ndoye put them 3-0 up at the break. With more signings to come and a Europa League journey to look forward to after last season's seventh-place finish, Forest fans may have more optimism than their manager after this opener. It was the start that new boss Andrews would have dreaded. With Bryan Mbeumo and Christian Norgaard sold over the summer and Yoane Wissa effectively on strike trying to force a move away, the Dubliner has not been handed the easiest of tasks in his first managerial role. Igor Thiago got the Bees on the scoresheet with a second-half penalty, but life after Thomas Frank began poorly. Forest had only scored one goal in six excruciating pre-season friendlies, but they needed just six minutes to break the deadlock. Elliot Anderson's corner fell to Wood and the striker picked up where he left off last season by slamming home the loose ball from close range. Such was the novelty of scoring a goal, the celebrations on the touchline were wild, with goalkeeping coach Rui Barbosa needing medical treatment after hitting his head on the roof of the dugout and suffering a nasty cut. Forest were electric and almost scored a brilliant team goal as new signing Ndoye, Morgan Gibbs-White and Anderson all combined, with the latter seeing a goalbound shot well blocked by Sepp van den Berg. Brentford looked to establish themselves in the game and forced goalkeeper Matz Sels into a good save when Yehor Yarmolyuk fizzed in a low shot. But Forest continued to dominate and two goals in five minutes before half-time sent them into dreamland. In the 42nd minute Gibbs-White arced in a delicious cross for Ndoye to send a flying header into the top corner. Then in the second minute of time added on Wood doubled his tally when he latched on to Anderson's through ball and rounded Caoimhin Kelleher to put it in an empty net. Forest were irresistible after the break as they searched for more goals. Callum Hudson-Odoi, on the brink of signing a new contract, stung the palms of Kelleher before Gibbs-White hooked an acrobatic effort just over the crossbar. Brentford brought on Jordan Henderson in the 68th minute as they tried to stem the tide and 10 minutes later they had reduced their deficit. Forest midfielder Ibrahim Sangare handled the ball in the area and Thiago rolled home the resulting penalty. There was no grandstand finish, though, as Forest got their season off to a winning start.
