Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink (Part 3)

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31 Mar 2024

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink (Part 3)

Jimmy Hasselbaink's international career with the Netherlands national team began while he was playing for Leeds United in England. He made his debut on 27 May 1998 in a friendly match against Cameroon, coming on as a substitute for Marc Overmars. Just a few days later, he scored his first international goal in a friendly victory over Paraguay, followed by another goal in another friendly against Nigeria.
He was included in the Dutch squad for the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France but mainly served as a backup to established strikers like Patrick Kluivert, Dennis Bergkamp, and Pierre van Hooijdonk. Despite starting the opening game against Belgium, he was not a regular starter and made limited appearances throughout the tournament. The Netherlands finished in fourth place.

After Guus Hiddink resigned as manager, Hasselbaink found opportunities with the national team limited under Frank Rijkaard. He continued to sporadically feature in international matches, scoring goals against Spain, Andorra, Portugal, Cyprus, and Denmark. However, he was not selected for UEFA Euro 2000, despite being initially included in the preliminary squad.
Under Louis van Gaal's management, Hasselbaink's chances at the international level increased. He scored several goals in World Cup qualifiers and friendly matches, but the Netherlands failed to qualify for the 2002 FIFA World Cup. His last appearance for the national team came in September 2003 in a Euro 2004 qualifying match against Belarus.
Overall, while Hasselbaink's international career had its moments of success, he faced tough competition for places in the Dutch squad and was often utilized as a backup striker.

Jimmy Hasselbaink's managerial career took off when he was appointed as the manager of League Two side Burton Albion on 13 November 2014. Signing a two-and-a-half-year contract, he was drawn to the club's stability. Just four days after his appointment, he led Burton to a 3–1 victory over Wycombe Wanderers, which propelled the club into fourth place in the league table.
Hasselbaink's leadership was soon recognized, as he was nominated for the League Two Manager of the Month award in January after guiding Burton to an unbeaten run and notable victories over promotion rivals Shrewsbury Town and Bury. Although he narrowly missed out on the award, his impact on the team was evident.

On 18 April, Burton secured promotion to League One for the first time in their history with a 2–1 away victory over Morecambe. Just two weeks later, they clinched the League Two title by coming from behind to defeat Cambridge United 3–2, despite being reduced to ten men after the dismissal of goalkeeper Jon McLaughlin.
Hasselbaink's success continued into the following season, with Burton performing strongly in League One. He was named the League One Manager of the Month for September 2015 after overseeing three wins in five games for the newly promoted side. By the time of his departure from Burton, the team was sitting at the top of League One, a testament to Hasselbaink's managerial prowess and the remarkable progress he had achieved with the club.

Jimmy Hasselbaink took on the role of manager at Championship club Queens Park Rangers, signing a rolling contract alongside his assistant David Oldfield. Just eight days later, he led the team for the first time in a goalless draw against Burnley at Loftus Road. Following the match, he emphasized the need to boost the team's confidence and allow them the freedom to express themselves on the pitch.
Despite the departure of leading scorer Charlie Austin on the same day as his first win, Hasselbaink secured his maiden victory as QPR manager on 16 January 2016 with a convincing 3–0 win against Rotherham United. Despite facing challenges, he guided the team to a 12th-place finish in the Championship.

Hasselbaink had high hopes for the summer transfer window to strengthen the squad, but unfortunately, his tenure at QPR came to an end on 5 November 2016, with the team positioned in 17th place. Despite his departure, his brief spell at the club marked a significant chapter in his managerial career, showcasing his ability to lead teams at a competitive level.
On 4 September 2017, Jimmy Hasselbaink took over as manager of League One club Northampton Town, signing a three-year deal following the dismissal of Justin Edinburgh, who had overseen a poor start to the season with four consecutive losses. Hasselbaink's debut match in charge was against Doncaster Rovers five days later, securing a 1–0 victory for Northampton Town in a home fixture.

However, despite the promising start, Hasselbaink's tenure at Northampton Town was short-lived. After a string of disappointing results, including nine games without a win and finding the team in the relegation zone with only five matches remaining in the 2017–18 season, he was relieved of his duties on 2 April 2018. Despite his efforts, he was unable to steer the club away from the threat of relegation, ultimately leading to his departure from Northampton Town.

Jimmy Hasselbaink returned to Burton Albion for his second stint as manager. During his tenure, he made significant changes to the squad, bringing in seven permanent signings and securing five loan deals, focusing mainly on younger players with the addition of veteran defender Michael Mancienne, aged 33. Despite his efforts, Burton Albion finished 16th in the 2021–22 season, with Hasselbaink acknowledging that there was substantial work to be done behind the scenes.

During the summer, Hasselbaink held discussions with Barnsley regarding a potential move but ultimately decided to stay with Burton Albion. However, his second spell at the club came to an end when he resigned as manager on 5 September 2022. At the time of his resignation, Burton Albion was at the bottom of the table with just one point from seven games. Hasselbaink cited limited resources as a factor in his decision, stating that he believed he had taken the club as far as possible under the circumstances.

Jimmy Hasselbaink's response to questions about his responsibilities as a black manager reflects his strong belief in meritocracy and his refusal to be defined or limited by his race. He emphasized that his appointment was based on his qualifications and performance, rather than any perceived obligation to fulfill a diversity quota. Hasselbaink's pride in his heritage is evident, but he also asserts that his managerial abilities should be the sole criteria for evaluating his suitability for a role.
The revelation by Port Vale chairman Norman Smurthwaite sheds light on the challenges and prejudices that black managers may face in the football industry. Smurthwaite's admission highlights the ongoing presence of racism within certain sections of football fandom and underscores the need for continued efforts to combat discrimination and promote diversity and inclusion within the sport.