De Sutter: "I was ready to leave the club"

SUNDAY, 8 JULY 2012, 14:13 - Motivee
Anderlecht-Online No Image Found

Tom De Sutter seems to have started his second career at Anderlecht. If coach Jacobs were to stay, he was ready to leave. But in stead, coach Van den Brom came, and Tom stayed. "The new coach is a relief," he says.


"I've gotten a lot more feedback from the new coach in two weeks, than the entire time I worked with Ariel Jacobs last year," he starts off. "I hardly played any games. Those 5-minute substitions were too much."

"I was always prepared to compete with Mbokani, but when he got injured in August, the coach chose Suarez over me. I refuse to believe he did it to torture me. Every footballer experiences a time like this in his career, but mine was just too long."

Support from fans and the board

In december 2011 at Zulte-Waregem, Tom was brought into what seemed to be a lost game, but with two goals, he managed to save the 3 points for Anderlecht. Next game, however, he was back on the bench, no explanation.

"Every coach makes his choices. I was never at odds with Jacobs, but our relationship got worse over time. The board, however, showed me they believed in me still, as well as the fans. They were very supportive and it's what kept me going."

Still, near the end, things got tough for Tom. "I got very discouraged near the end. I wasn't working hard at training anymore, I didn't see the point," he admits. "But I never took my problems home. My girlfriend and friends helped me forget, and I was cheerful. I realize there are much worse things that can happen to you."

New coach

"This new coach is a true relief. I'm back to having fun at training, and the coach talks to me a lot. There has been interest from foreign clubs, but I want a second chance at Anderlecht, to show everyone I haven't lost any of my abilities."



anderlecht-online forum