Tijjani Reijnders has quickly become a key player for both Manchester City and the Netherlands national team. After a successful season with AC Milan, where he was named Serie A Midfielder of the Season, he made a €55 million move to the Premier League. He has made a solid start, contributing goals and assists for his new club.
However, his journey to the top was not always straightforward. According to those who coached him in his early years, Reijnders’ success is a result of his intelligence, positive attitude, and love for the game, which helped him overcome early physical challenges.
🌱 Overcoming Early Hurdles
When Tijjani Reijnders was a young player at the PEC Zwolle academy, his talent was clear, but his path to becoming a top professional was not guaranteed. His former youth coach, Henk Brugge, noted that while Reijnders had great technical skill and game intelligence, he was not as physically developed as his teammates. “He was biologically younger than his teammates,” Brugge explained. This meant he sometimes struggled against stronger, more mature opponents. To overcome this, Reijnders learned to be smarter on the field. “He needed to be smarter than the other players—in positioning, technique, game intelligence,” Brugge said. “And he was!”
🧠 A Smart Player with a Great Attitude
After leaving PEC Zwolle and later returning, Reijnders got his big break with a move to AZ Alkmaar, a club famous for developing young talent. There, his mindset and passion for football stood out. His former coach at Jong AZ, Koen Stam, described him as “a true lover of the game” who was always cheerful and enjoyed every moment on the pitch. “After training, he always wanted to stay a bit longer to practice,” Stam recalled. Both coaches agreed that Reijnders’ intelligence was his greatest asset. He constantly learns and looks for ways to improve, supported by a stable family that provided constructive feedback.
🏆 Developing into a Complete Player
It took some time, but Reijnders eventually broke into the AZ Alkmaar first team in 2020 and has been on an upward path ever since. His former coaches have been impressed by how he has developed into a complete midfielder. He can score goals, both from well-timed runs into the box and from long-range shots, while also being strong in defence. “Technically superb, reading the game, game intelligence… a complete, exceptional player,” said Brugge. While there is some debate about his best position, his coaches believe he excels as a box-to-box midfielder (a number 8), where he can influence the game in both attack and defence.
💪 Set for Success at Manchester City
Now playing in the highly demanding Premier League, Reijnders is facing his biggest challenge yet. Despite some questions about whether he can consistently perform at this level, his former mentors have no doubts about his future. When asked how certain they were that he would succeed at Manchester City, both Henk Brugge and Koen Stam gave the same confident answer: “100%.” They believe his intelligence, skill, and unwavering love for football will ensure he becomes a great success.
