Johan Derksen
Johannes Gerrit "Johan" Derksen (born 31 January 1949) is a Dutch sports journalist and former football player. He played professional football between 1966 and 1978 for six clubs: Go Ahead Eagles, Cambuur, Veendam, HFC Haarlem, SV Meppen and MVV Maastricht. During and after his footballing career, he became a sports journalist, specialising in football. He was the editor-in-chief of Voetbal International, the Netherlands' most prominent football magazine, from 2000 until his retirement in 2013. Derksen was while working at Voetbal International and after his retirement a television football pundit on RTL7's Voetbal International and Veronica Inside on Veronica TV. His current TV talkshow is Vandaag Inside on SBS6. Early life Derksen was born as an only child in Heteren, Gelderland into a Protestant family. He described his father as being a very strict policeman, both professionally and at home. Derksen stated that his father wanted him to become a professional football player instead of a drummer; Derksen was already a member of local football team SDOO Heteren. When he was a teenager, his family moved to Drenthe, where he later played for amateur football clubs Nieuw-Buinen and Rolder Boys. Derksen then moved to Deventer to join the youth academy of professional football club Go Ahead Eagles. Club career Go Ahead Eagles (1966–1968) Go Ahead Eagles were known for having one of the Netherlands' most successful youth academies. Derksen was one of the six players in the club's boarding school, together with Oeki Hoekema, André van der Leij, Ger Veerman, Herman Tieselink and Tiny Broers. In 1968, the 19-year-old left-back signed a one-year-contract with Cambuur. Cambuur (1968–1972) He made his debut on 1 August 1968 in a friendly against PEC Zwolle, and quickly developed into a reliable defender notorious for his rough playing style. His contract was later extended by another year. In a game against Vitesse, he injured his knee and was forced to decline an invitation from the Dutch military football team. He did not return before the start of the next season. After fulfilling his military service, he was employed as a textile salesman, as Cambuur was a semi-professional club. In the summer of 1972, Derksen was transferred to Veendam. Veendam (1972–1975) In 1973, in Veendam's away match against Cambuur, Derksen received a yellow card from referee Gerard Jonker. Derksen later made a harsh foul by charging Cambuur's centre-back Sietse Visser in a scrimmage, leaving Visser severely injured; Jonker did not send Derksen off. Cambuur's chanted insults at Derksen, who gave the finger to the crowd. The police later closed the gates to ensure Veendam would be granted a safe passage home. Cambuur won the game 3–1. According to some bystanders Derksen had threatened the Cambuur players that they "would indeed get a good licking". Derksen's charge fueled the debate on the ever more violent behaviour shown on the pitch. Derksen received a monetary fine (150 fl.) and was suspended for four games. His colleagues Dick Nanninga (3 matches, 100 fl. fine) and Jan Bont (1 match, 100