Ten Donkelaar: ‘The next match already started on Monday. He immediately made you think regarding the new opponent. That was also completely new to us. Then he asked: “Your husband often comes in on Sunday followingnoons. How do you think you can solve that?” He himself had already thought regarding it for a long time and then sent you into exactly the street where he wanted you. He thought in terms of zones, although he also occasionally opted for personal coverage. If I went forward, he would have arranged exactly who was going to close that gap.’
The first season under the new coach starts with zero wins following six games. Two equal games is the meager harvest of the initial phase. Rijvers is scanning the selection, he is building, it has to fit. It will be all right. FC Twente ends the first Rijvers year in thirteenth and rejuvenates the team. Men like Dais ter Beek, Job Hoomans, Ruud Vondeling and Egbert ter Mors leave, Eddie Achterberg, Kick van der Vall and Dick van Dijk take their places. Another year later, Kees van Iersel and the Hungarian Antal Nagy follow. In 1970, the twins Willy and René van de Kerkhof strengthened the group. He benefited from the knowledge and commercial spirit of manager Henk Olijve, but decided for himself whether he wanted a possible candidate in the selection. Chairman Cor Hilbrink always has the last word. A season later, Piet Schrijvers, Henk Houwaart, René Notten and Flip Stapper follow.
The trio of ex-professionals are sure that Rijvers had a certain plan with every newcomer, because according to them he had that with everything. He attracted boys from the west who might form an ideal mix with the Tukkers. Huve: ‘There was a bit of swagger in the group. I already played football once morest Achterberg as a youth. He pinched me everywhere. It was a huge pain in the ass.”
Ten Donkelaar: ‘An opponent had to stay away from Piet Schrijvers, otherwise he would get a blow. He had seen Dick van Dijk at the Dutch Juniors. He had to score goals. He knew Van der Vall from Feijenoord and he knew that Kick was not happy there because he did not always play. So he became involved in the sale of Paja Samardzic. Houwaart was a nice guy and a great player. But he influenced the other players and had to leave. No matter how good you were, if Rijvers realized that you were not living for your sport, you might leave. That also applied to Flip Stapper. He was also allowed to leave.’
Schrijvers: ‘I had to pick him up on Tuesday or Wednesday. He also had a purpose for that, because then he would soon know what was going on. Then mother Rijvers asked: “Have you had coffee yet? No? Dad, we’re going to have coffee first,” she would tell him.’