Phillip Cocu: Whole New Ball Game

Former Dutch international Phillip Cocu loves a challenge, be it on the football pitch or off it. And he says it is this trait, coupled with the familiarities of a near two-decade long career in Europe, that lured him into seeking a change of scenery with Abu Dhabi club Al Jazira.

"I had lot of options, to stay with PSV or go to Germany or Spain but after 19 seasons of playing football in Europe I was thinking about changing, doing something different, to get another experience," a relaxed Cocu told XPRESS at the Armed Forces Officers Club in the UAE capital, where the Al Jazira team are currently based along with the other teams competing in the GCC clubs championship.

"I think it is also very interesting to go abroad, to enrich my life as a football player and maybe later if I become a coach, to understand different styles of football – that was one of the reasons to leave Europe," added the 36-year-old veteran midfielder, who has signed a one-year deal with Al Jazira.

Lucrative offers from Australia and the USA also came his way, but playing in the Middle East was what intrigued the ex-Barcelona star the most as he elaborated on the response his arrival generated.

"I had a very warm welcome at the club with all the players. I felt part of the team really quickly even though I have only been here little bit more than a week and I think it's a quite professional club. They have a big stadium, all the facilities for a professional football club are there, good training facilities. It's a club that wants to be professional and has big ambitions, that's what I like," he said.

Having made his debut appearance in the Jazira colours against Qatar side Al Wakra on Sunday, Cocu said it was still too early to comment on the standard of UAE football, but he is anxious for the league season to begin.

"We are training and I can see the way they live for football and how they play. I have already seen some interesting things and we are a nice group with different styles of players and hopefully it will be a successful year. We are going to work hard for it."

So has he felt the need to pick up Arabic in order to communicate?

"Most of the players speak quite good English. I think Arabic is very difficult to learn but I will try to learn some words from the players, Salaam Alaykum and those kind of things, but it's not easy," he said.

And Cocu is ready to play the big-brother role towards helping the cream of UAE's young talent itching for a move to Europe.

"If the players who I will be working with over the next year are really keen on making a step to Europe, of course I will put all my experience and knowledge at the service of the team to help them. In my team, I have already seen some good and talented players. If you have talent and then you have the right mentality to work and train hard you can make it," said Cocu.