Fibra Football: "The most important element for a football player is your mental strength..." says Robert Molenaar

In an exclusive interview to our blog, Robert Molenaar, former Leeds United player and current Specialist Trainer SBV Excelsior Holland, talks about his successful career, fame and future projects in football


Fibra Football : You achieved great fame as a player with Leeds United, what are your main memories of this period? 

The way de game of football is approached by supporters. In their eyes you’ re a star. If you work hard you’ll get respect. If you deliver you’ll get praise and if you stand out you’ll be worshipped. 
Further special memories are: 
My debut against Leicester City (Emile Heskey), the game against Newcastle away when I was voted man off the match against Allen Sheerer. The game against Blackburn Rovers away 3-4 win (half time it was already 3-4), I scored a lovely goal, got a penalty given against me and got substituted at half time, the European games against Roma (Totti). 
Being injured for almost 2 seasons because of cruciate ligament replacements, the airplane crash the squad was in after West Ham away. And especially the colleges who made me feel at home right from the start and opponents I had the honour to play against. 



Leeds United
 

Fibra Football : You were a player of great physical strength, in your opinion; players with this feature can yield more? 

More and more is asked of players these days. Beside a all-round high level of general basics like talent, technical, tactical skills, physical ability to stay fit the most important element is your mental strength. So you’ll be able, under al circumstances, to focus on adapting- and improving your level of personal qualities in relation with the team development. 

Fibra Football : Tell us a little more about your work at SBV Excelsior. 

Although my main job was to be a specialist trainer for only the defenders it has developed over a small period in time a roll as an assistant manager / coach to support the manager in all matters on and of the pitch. 

Fibra Football : What did you learn with managers like George Graham and David O’Leary? 

George Graham main focus was his defensive organization. He was responsible for my biggest development in that department. 
O’Leary as did Graham focus on putting a squad together. 

Fibra Football : In your opinion what are the main differences between the football played in England and the Netherlands? What is the better in your opinion? 

In England the focus was (in my time) on winning ground by playing the ball forward in a opportune way and winning the ball back. 
And in Holland despite the way the national team played in the latest World Cup in Brazil, we like to keep the ball and bring the ball forward in a controlled manner. 
I prefer a mixture of England -and Dutch gameplay! 

Fibra Football : What are your goals for 2015? 
To extend my contract with Excelsior and keep combining that with being a manager of the amateur side Halsteren. So I keep learning and that eventually should bring me a job as a manager at professional level in Holland or abroad. 

Fibra Football : Thank you for the interview. 

You’re Welkom