We know how much the Premier
WHEN Mike van der Hoorn swapped Ajax for Swansea City he probably didn’t envisage his first two seasons in English football ending in nerve-shredding relegation battles.
Up until the move to south Wales the Dutchman had been part of an FC Utrecht side challenging for Europe, and challenging for the Eredivisie title at Ajax. Scraps to avoid the drop were not part of the job spec.
Not that the 25-year-old would ever complain, he gets on with his duties quietly, in a non-nonsense yet robust fashion that has earned him the moniker ‘Iron Mike’ and seen supporters chant his name in recognition.
He has had to bide his time for a regular run in a white shirt, he featured only sporadically last term although he never whinged about it, before a switch of system this season saw him become an integral part of the side under Carlos Carvalhal.
He has worked diligently to try and adjust to his new league and surroundings.
Feeling he needed to improve he sought the services of a personal trainer and personal analyst to help him physically.
“I had come to feel like I needed more last year, I was not in the team and I needed to do something extra,” he said.
“So my wife was using a personal trainer, a guy named David North, and I got in contact with him, sometimes it is just stretching after a hard week as I am not the most flexible guy.
“I want this move to be a success, I want to be better than I am now, every time, and it has helped me.
“I see him once a week, he’s become a good friend over the last year and it has got me fitter and flexible, which is the most important thing.”
Van der Hoorn’s no-frills approach has made him popular with supporters, although not always with his teammates who are on the receiving end of his rugged defending in training.
He is part of a decreasing breed of defenders who actually like to defend, as opposed to showing off the flashier sides of their games. He understands