Another Dutchman with the “Rouge et Noir”

Karel Bonsink, the forgotten pioneer

Karel Bonsink anyone? Not many seem to remember this attacking player, the first Dutchman to ever sign a contract with Rennes.
It was in summer 1981. In the second division since four years, Stade Rennes were keen on mounting a top-flight challenge. But the way to D1 was conditioned to a strong attacking line, and the club hired two foreign forwards: Congolese François M’Pelé, a former Paris Saint-Germain striker arriving in Rennes in the latter stage of his career, and Bonsink, an experience Dutch winger.

Until then, Karel Bonsink had knewn a pretty peculiar career, signing in good clubs, but seemingly failing to do it at the right time. He started his career in Eredivisie in 1968, aged only 18, at the DWS Amsterdam, in his city of birth. A Dutch champion four years earlier, the DWS had already known its finest hours when Bonsink turned pro. Too late…
In 1971, the forward was transferred to FC Utrecht, where he made a name for himself by scoring twenty goals in three seasons. His performances could have opened him the door to high-profile Dutch clubs… But he chose to leave for Belgium in 1974. Recruited by RFC Liege, then by Daring Molenbeek, Bonsink lived his best seasons in the Belgian championship.
1979 was finally the year of recognition: He was recruited by mighty Ajax Amsterdam. But this Ajax was only a shadow of Cruyff and Neeskens’ glorious outfit. Bonsink still managed to earn a Champion title and took part in the European Champion Clubs’ Cup, but his team was hit by criticism, and his spell was shortened. The forward returned to Molenbeek for the 1980-1981 season.

This is when he arrived in Brittany to occupy the left wing in Rennes’ attacking line. In competition with Gérard Saliné, Bonsink appeared on the pitch in 25 occasions in the league, for only seventeen starts and four goals. Not really satisfying expectations, his Breton adventure ended up in Summer 1982. Aged 32, the player then decided to merchandise his talent in Hong-Kong, where he played for two years with the Seiko Sports Association.
Later, he started a reconversion as a manager, but except for a position as assistant manager at NAC Breda, Bonsink would never manage to coach at a level higher than Dutch second division. Today, and since 2001, he manages FC Hilversum in the national third division.

Erik van den Boogaard : Simply “VDB”

In those times, when the Stade Rennais was at the heart of his “yo-yo” years, Erik van den Boogaard’s stay in Brittany did much to help the club return to successful ways. In 1987, newly appointed Raymond Keruzoré was given the mission to rebuild a solid squad on the ruins remaining from the previous season.
After a few months groping in the dark, the team was still lacking a real attacking line. Who would play alongside youngster Laurent Delamontagne ? Former Matra-Racing player Jean-Michel Bridier had failed to satisfy expectations…

In the heart of winter, a 23 years young Dutchman arrived for a three days trial. His name was Erik-Jan van den Boogaard. Trained at PSV Eindhoven, he was playing since 1985 at MVV Maastricht, a club also involved in constant up-and-downs between the first two domestic divisions.

It was an absolutely unknown young man from the Dutch second division, who immediately convinced the Rennes management to hire him. And they would not regret it: On his first game, against Baud in the Coupe de France (7-0), “VDB” opened his counter, Seven more goals would follow in only twelve league games, enough for the blonde striker to become Rennes’ best goal scorer of the season.

The following two seasons, van den Boogaard tortured the second division defences. Twenty goals in 1988-89, another fifteen in 1989-90, the Dutchman was quick to make a place for himself among the best “goal hunters” in the club’s history. Stade Rennes also profited, returning to D1 in May 1990.
All Rennes supporters were eager to see their favourite put the top-flight defences to the sword, especially since the club had recruited François Omam-Biyik after his great performance with Cameroon at the World Cup. But the wish was eventually denied: Placed on the transfer list for financial reasons, “VDB” was sold to FC Rouen, where he would score another ten goals in 1990-1991. His career ended prematurely a bit later, after a final season in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Arnold Oosterveer, in the hard times

A solid defender, Arnold Oosterveer hasn’t left an unforgettable memory at Stade Rennes. To his defence, the tall libero arrived in an era everything but troubled at the club.

Trained at Alkmaar FC, he turned pro in 1984 at Telstar Velsen, in the Dutch second division. Oosterver installed himself as a regular first team player before signing at Alkmaar’s front club, the AZ. Just as Bonsink at Ajax, he arrived a bit too late: AZ was feeling the backlash of its glorious years (Dutch Champion and UEFA Cup finalist in 1981), and remained slumped in the Eredivisie’s mid-table. A key-member in the squad, he played about sixty matches in two seasons and decided to look for new footballing fortunes abroad.
In 1988, Oosterveer arrived in France, in Niort. Just relegated from the Division 1, the Deux-Sèvres club aimed at a bounce back from the second tier, but it wouldn’t happen.

In October 1990, a few months after van den Boogaard’s departure, Stade Rennais was struggling. After good beginning for its return to D1, the club lined-up poor performances, especially in defence. As a coup de grace, François Denis injured himself badly, forcing the management to look out for a defensive reinforcement. This would be Oosterveer.
Soon, he became an immovable first-team member at centre-back, even after Denis’ return. Unfortunately, his appointment didn’t result in better results. After a first relegation in 1991, cancelled by the administrative relegations of Brest, Bordeaux and Nice, Rennes didn’t escape the axe a year later, following a relegation play-off against Strasbourg. The catastrophic defeat at la Meinau (1-4) was Oosterveer’s final game in the Rennes shirt.

He remained in D1 the following season however, recruited by Valenciennes. Playing alongside de Jacques Glassmann, he was a privileged witness of the VA-OM « affair », although he didn’t play in the unfamed fixture, and ended his third D1 season with a third consecutive relegation.
A result which would end his stay in France, at 34. He went on to finish his professional career with Heerenveen, in the Eredivisie. After hanging up his boots, he became a players agent and is notably in charge of Klaas-Jan Huntelaar’s interests.

Mario Melchiot, the Ajax school

Last Dutch player to wear Rennes’ jersey, Mario Melchiot only needed a year to impress the observers. Elegant with a ball, attack-minded, he also brought his long experience acquired in the Netherlands and in England.

The Ajax’ school of football has always remained a reference, and provided the Dutch national team with countless talent. No wonder then, that the first Dutch international to play in Rennes had graduated from the famous Academy.
Mario Melchiot, born in Amsterdam from Surinamese parents, went through the youth ranks at Ajax, where he started his professional career in 1996. Three years later, the defender took the leap to the Premier League and signed for Chelsea FC. With the Blues, Melchiot experienced his finest years, notably winning the FA Cup in 2000.
After five seasons in London, including three as an undisputed first eleven member, he joined Birmingham where he remained for two seasons. In a struggling club, the Dutchman was confronted to difficulties. Criticised by his own fans, he was eventually let free by the club in June 2006.

Pierre Dréossi felt the opportunity and made the proposal to Melchiot, to re-launch him with a one year contract in France. Rennes’s right back position hadn’t known a real specialist since several seasons. The last first-choice in date, Jean-Joël Perrier-Doumbé, had failed to convince. The arrival of the Dutchman, also a financially sensible option, turned to be a true bargain.
His 2006-2007 season was quality and Melchiot charmed the supporters. He also turned into a goal scorer in three occasions, all on set-pieces. In other words, when Rennes managed to qualify for the UEFA Cup, its new right back was anything but accessory in this success.

« Super Mario » did also benefit in the operation. Back in track after his experience in Rennes, he returned in 2007 to the Dutch national team, of which he had been withdrawn since his disappointing spell at Birmingham. But with a contract running out in June, would Melchiot decide to remain in Brittany? Finally, the call of England and of Wigan’s pounds sterling decided his choice for a return to Premier League.
With the Latics, Melchiot went on to play three more seasons as a first choice defender, even becoming his team’s captain at his arrival. In June, aged 33, he left to live what may well be his last footballing challenge at Umm Salal, Qatar.

- Photos rwdm-fcbrussels.be (Bonsink), srfc.frenchwill.fr (van den Boogaard and Oosterveer)