NO HOLIDAY FOR ’BAINK!
JIMMY FLOYD HASSELBAINK is a man in a hurry – and happy to abandon the warmth of the Sky Sports studio for the often bleak League One dugouts, with Burton Albion.
The 48-year-old Dutch former Leeds United and Chelsea striker has overseen an impressive climb away from the relegation zone.
Burton had been rockbottom, eight points from safety, and were being thumped 5-1 at home to Oxford United as newlyappointed boss Hasselbaink watched on from the stands after returning at the beginning of the year.
Since then nine victories in 13 games have put Burton well on track to preserve their League One status.
The Dutchman is in his second spell at the club. He left them in December 2015 at the top of League One – after promotion the previous season – to become QPR manager. It proved a disastrous move, as was a subsequent agreement to become Northampton Town boss.
He’s glad to be back with the Brewers.
“I don’t have enough time, my days are full –but I’m not complaining about the workload, I’m enjoying it,” Hasselbaink said.
“Because we’ve had Covid-19 at the club we are having to make up two games on most of the rest of the teams, with the games already coming thick and fast anyway due to the pandemic.
“We are going in the right direction – but we have not achieved anything yet.
“Results are the most important thing, but you also want performances and that’s what we have done.
“You can’t celebrate too long because we need to keep on going.”
It was a blow to Sky Sports losing Hasselbaink but he said: “Football management is easily the second-best thing after playing.
“Yes, I’ve loved going into the TV studio and I’ll continue to do it if asked, if my schedule allows.”
He has also left his family in London, sharing a house with his assistant, former Oldham and Stevenage manager Dino Maamria, who he met on a coaching course, the pair striking up a lasting friendship.
Burton striker Kane Hemmings (left), who hit a hat-trick in the 3-0 defeat of Crewe last week, said: “I don’t think the manager cares what the players think. It’s like ‘You have to do this, if you don’t like it you won’t be here’. Simple as that.”
Hasselbaink demands the never-say-die spirit he showed as a player. He added: “The players have been absolutely magnificent but they have to maintain their hunger and determination. There is no time to jump up and down after the wins.
“You have to make sure the brain is sharp. The hardest part is keeping them fresh mentally. It’s about making them feel that the body can cope with anything.
“We are sportsmen and want to push ourselves to the highest level.”