Ajax are in the league stage of the Europa League thanks to a phenomenal display from Remco Passbar In penalties against Panathinaikos in the qualifiers. The Dutch won 0:1 in Athens, but surrendered with the same result in Amsterdam, and the business slipped into an extremely unusual duel. Each team made 17 kicks, and the final score was 12:13. Passover stopped five attempts by the Greens, scored himself, and at the end of the drama, coach Francesco Farioli offered with a wink to hang his picture in the stadium tunnel, next to the great stars who have worn the club’s uniform throughout history.
Farioli did laugh, but at the beginning of the season some believed that his choice to bet on the veteran goalkeeper was a less successful joke. After all, Fasber is already 40 years old, he didn’t play a single minute in any setting last season, and the commentators believed that this was already a past player. His graying hair even makes him look older than he really is. But the Italian boss, who is younger than him by more than five years, examined the options available to him without prejudice, and decided that Passover was in the best shape. The Argentinian Jeronimo Rolli was sold to Marseille, Diante Remai was sold, and Passover became a dominant leader who teaches the young defenders even during the games.
“Preventive concierge”
He defines it as “preventive gatekeeping”. Passover tries to predict the moves, gives countless instructions and screams at his friends. Sometimes he apologizes for it after the games, but the Croatian defender Josip Šutalo claimed that this conduct is useful and helpful. In general, the goalkeeper does not keep his mouth shut even outside the field. He is always ready to speak his mind, even if it is unpleasant to someone. During last season, for example, when Ajax fell into a deep crisis, Passover analyzed the situation in an interview with the newspaper Het Parol and fired in all directions.
“Ajax’s identity has been trampled. There is no vision and no leadership,” he stated. He accused the management of unprofessionalism, and the footballers of poor ability and lack of motivation to improve. “Many acquired players do not fit the level expected at Ajax, and do not understand the mentality of the club. Two years ago, the gym was always full after training. Players like Dusan Tadic and Lisandro Martins spent extra hours in their free time. I miss that, because now everyone rushes home. Commitment is lower in the new generation, and that worries me,” Fasber said.
He really remembers other days. The best months of his life were in the 2021/22 season, when Ajax dismantled everyone in the Dutch league and finished the group stage of the Champions League with a perfect record of six wins. Fassver got the big headlines when he became the first goalkeeper in the factory to stop three of Arling Holland’s shots on target, leaving the Norwegian frustrated on the way to a magnificent 0:4 over Borussia Dortmund. He was already 37 years old at the time, and the late rise received a lot of attention in the country – after all, until then he was not considered a top goalkeeper.
Trained with Ten Brother, played with Overmars
And it’s time to understand how Passver arrived at Ajax in the first place in the summer of 2021. The reason is absolutely fascinating – he knew coach Erik ten Haag and sporting director Marc Obermars from their days on the grass.
A native of Enschede and a graduate of Twente’s academy, he joined first-team training sometime in 2002, when the younger brother was just nearing the end of his career as a stopper. Fasber was not seen as a promising goalkeeper, he hardly got any opportunities, and left in 2006 in favor of the regional rival Rakles, where he also sat in the stands and was frustrated. In 2008, he finally got a chance to stand between the posts on a weekly basis when he was loaned to Lego Ahed Eagles in the second division, where he met Obermars, who came to finish his career at his boyhood club. The two became friends, and the famous star gave the inexperienced Passover quite a few tips.
It probably helped, because upon his return to Heracles in 2010, Pasver was upgraded to the senior league lineup. Peter Bos was the coach who trusted him with his eyes closed, and the goalkeeper enjoyed himself very much, although he had a lot of work due to the adventurous style that abandoned the rear. He was highly regarded, and after 4 years his path to Eindhoven was paved. He arrived at the luxury club in 2014 when he was already 30 years old, and hoped to fight for the first vest, but in vain. Two championships were recorded on his resume, but his contribution was not significant, which was disappointing. So in 2017 he packed up and moved to Vitsa where he spent a good 4 years.
Debut in the national team at almost 39 years old
At the beginning of 2021, when he was in excellent shape, the management offered him a new contract for one season only. Fassver demanded at least two years, but was told it was impossible because he was almost 38. So Obermars stepped in and brought his best friend to Amsterdam on a free transfer at an important time for Ajax. Andre Onana was then serving his lengthy suspension for allegedly using a banned substance. Marten Steckelburch, also a veteran, remained as the first goalkeeper, but he had just been injured – and so Passver’s path to the team was paved in an unplanned way. He took this chance with both hands, and it is possible that Holland remembers it to this day.
Luck played his part, but then misfortune also came, because he broke his finger in the round of 16 of the Champions League against Benfica and missed the last months of the record season. That didn’t stop him from coming back even stronger in the fall of 2022, and then came the amazing news that Louis van Gaal had called him up to the national team. Fasber kept a clean sheet in two games against Poland and Belgium in the Nations League, and at one point was considered a leading candidate to be in the Orange squad at the World Cup at the age of 39 – but ultimately lost the battle to Andries Neufert.
At the same time, the administrative mess at Ajax also began. Overmars had already been fired for improper conduct towards the club’s employees, the elder brother was already at Manchester United, and Fasver’s status was undermined. Roli was signed without even receiving an update about it, then a cheater arrived on the recommendation of sporting director Sven Mislintat whose days at the club were short. The veteran goalkeeper was pushed aside, and some believed that his blunt interview would mark the end of his career at the club. In practice, the wheel turned in the opposite direction completely, and this season he became one of the most important leaders in the revival of Ajax. Along the way, he also went down in history as the oldest player in its history.
He also cooked, also absorbed from 60 meters
One gets the impression that the club is gradually beginning to regain its lost identity, and Pasver has a significant part in this. He was never associated with Amsterdam, but it became clear that the revival was passing through him. Ajax comes to the meeting against Maccabi Tel Aviv with fantastic momentum, in second place in the table with 6 consecutive victories, the last two of which are against the biggest rivals. On Saturday, she came back twice from behind to beat the champion and leader PSV Eindhoven 2:3. In the middle of last week, they also beat Feyenoord, 0:2 from two quick goals in the opening.
Fasver not only kept a clean sheet in Rotterdam, but also scored the first goal for Kenneth Taylor with a long and incredibly accurate ball. “We practiced it in training. Ramko has good long passes, and it’s helpful to use them,” said the happy midfielder after the victory. It was the third assist in Fasver’s career, so here is a tip for the Yellows ahead of the meeting – pay attention to his excellent footwork. This was one of the considerations when Ajax signed him, and it is a particularly prominent strength in Farioli’s lineup. He may try to score goals against Israel’s champions as well.
One Israeli striker was already close to defeating Pasver this season. It was Sou Podgorano who put a ball on his own crossbar as Ajax achieved a dramatic 3-4 over Heracles, the goalkeeper’s legendary ex. This particular game will not be remembered favorably for him, because he was hit by a brilliant kick from Mario Angeles from 60 meters. The opponent’s star took control of the ball that Ajax carelessly lost in the center of the field, and immediately flew it into the net, knowing that Passover was standing far from his goal. This is also an important tip for Maccabi Tel Aviv, and you can try to take advantage of these exits of the goalkeeper with the return hair. He will not change his customs even after this bizarre event, and there is a reason for that. He believes this is the right way to contribute to the game.
It doesn’t bother him at his age either. On Friday, Fassver will celebrate his 41st birthday, and he doesn’t intend to stop here either. “If I think about retirement, my mentality will change, and it will turn into a long farewell season. I’m really not interested in that. I feel great, enjoy every moment on the field, and aspire to return to the Champions League as well. I hope I have many more birthdays as an active player.” he recently stated. This time he will be happy to receive a victory over the yellows as a gift.
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