"Verbruggen has potential for Dutch national team"

INTERVIEWS The Anderlecht fans saw Bart Verbruggen make his debut in Bruges on Sunday. The 18-year-old goalkeeper played a flawless match, but who is he? Sporza got his light on Tom Van Den Abbeele, former technical director at NAC Breda.


"I did not expect that he would already be under the bar", says Van Den Abbeele. Nevertheless, the Dutchman is convinced of Verbruggen's qualities. "He has a very solid footing. I also saw a lot of presence against Club Brugge. That surprised me, because personality used to be a working point." According to Van Den Abbeele, what could be improved is the focus during the entire match and assessing certain situations.

"Verbruggen has the potential to become a goalkeeper for the Dutch national team", Van Den Abbeele continues. "If he can be under the bar at Anderlecht for two or three years, teams abroad will jump to take over him." Van Den Abbeele sees his former player playing in the Premier League one day.

Van Den Abbeele also praises Verbruggen's attitude. "He's a very jovial, hardworking and pleasant boy. He won't start floating now." The fact that Verbruggen has now taken this step, so shortly after the death of his father, is, according to Van Den Abbeele, a sign of mental strength. "His father was an important person to him. He was present at every game."