In short
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink discusses Chelsea’s season finish, Champions League expectations, and striker recruitment—arguing Jackson is a better fit than Osimhen for the Premier League. He also reflects on his playing career (Leeds, Atletico, Chelsea, Middlesbrough), his managerial ambitions, and his experience on Gareth Southgate’s England staff at Euro 2024.
Guest backgrounds
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink is a former elite striker who played for Leeds, Atletico Madrid, Chelsea (Golden Boot in 2001), and Middlesbrough. He later coached/managed, worked with England under Gareth Southgate, and is now seeking further football opportunities.
Key claims
Chelsea’s late-season pressure experience matters more than trophy “mickey mouse” labels; Champions League is essential; Chelsea should close the gap to the league’s top teams; Jackson’s pressing/work rate and chance creation make him preferable to Osimhen; black managers face fewer opportunities (he can’t prove why, but says it’s a sensitive issue); Southgate’s pragmatism was justified by winning.
Notable examples
Chelsea’s professional wins vs Liverpool/Man United and the cup win; Jackson’s 14–16 goals and potential to add 4 more; Haaland’s one-touch finishing vs Isaac’s 1v1 corner-finding; Cole Palmer’s calm finishing; Euro 2024: two finals, World Cup semi-final, and Southgate’s “almost” success; Monaco vs Porto 2004 as a “fine line” Champions League moment.
Written by AI. May contain mistakes. Listen to the episode to check what was said.
Chapters
Tap a time to open that second in VOFamily and Personal Life
1:22 to 2:44
Jimmy shares insights about his family and personal life.
“This, this month, she's going to be five.”
Paddle Tennis Passion
2:44 to 4:00
Discussion on Jimmy's love for paddle tennis and playing with friends.
“Well, I work a little bit, paddle, play a little bit, a little bit running.”
Chelsea's Season Performance
4:00 to 7:00
Analyzing Chelsea's performance and season conclusion.
“But you still have to go and put the ball in the net.”
Future Prospects for Chelsea
7:00 to 8:08
Jimmy discusses Chelsea's future and the need for new players.
“The club needs to be in the Champions League.”
Discussion on Strikers
8:08 to 12:36
Exploring the potential of various strikers, including De Lape and Jackson.
“Do you think the club would have gone for somebody, you know, already made striker, somebody who's been there, done it, knows how to win trophies?”
The Mental Game of Strikers
14:00 to 15:19
Learn how mental state impacts striker performance and goal scoring.
“The moment you start feeling good, you can move mountains.”
Evaluating Finishing Skills
15:19 to 17:46
Discover insights on what makes a natural finisher in football.
“You know, we talk a lot about, you know, strikers that say, oh, this striker is a natural, natural finisher.”
Managerial Insights on Moreska
17:46 to 21:26
Explore the managerial style and impact of Moreska on the team.
“And then again, what do you make of, what is your realistic object?”
Challenges for Black Managers
21:26 to 26:34
Understand the systemic barriers faced by black managers in football.
“You've doubled, you know, in the management area.”
Challenges for Black Managers
26:38 to 26:48
Understand the systemic barriers faced by black managers in football.
“Betwinner is your reliable partner in the world of sports betting.”
Show all 20 chapters
Garrett Southgate's Coaching Philosophy
26:51 to 28:01
Analyze Southgate's coaching style and the team's performance in recent tournaments.
“we've just mentioned Garrett Southgate there.”
Evaluating Gareth Southgate's Tenure
28:01 to 31:24
Discussion on Gareth Southgate's performance as a coach and the importance of winning versus style.
“Yes, we didn't get it over the line, but he done a magnificent job.”
Jimmy's Career at Leeds United
31:24 to 31:52
Jimmy discusses his time at Leeds United, including his goal-scoring achievements and contract negotiations.
“believe you me the next one now he has to win it Thomas Torku yeah he has to win it because you guys have taken the team to the highest which is the finals and twice.”
Jimmy's Move to Atletico Madrid
33:28 to 35:50
Jimmy recounts his experience at Atletico Madrid, including his scoring and relegation challenges.
“So I went to Atletico Madrid, who at the time was a very good club.”
Transition to Chelsea and Managers
35:50 to 39:41
Discussion on Jimmy's transition to Chelsea and his experiences with various managers.
“And then, of course, you came to our beloved club, Chelsea.”
Barcelona Transfer That Almost Happened
39:41 to 42:00
Jimmy shares the story of a nearly completed transfer to Barcelona that fell through.
“The price for me to go there from club to club agreed.”
Reflecting on a Missed Transfer to Barcelona
42:00 to 43:30
Learn about Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink's potential move to Barcelona and its implications.
“Ranieri asked me, do you want to play last match?”
Champions League Heartbreak
44:14 to 46:00
Explore the bitter defeat against Monaco and its impact on Chelsea's history.
“We should have never lost against Monaco.”
The Middlesbrough Experience
46:00 to 49:41
Hear about Jimmy's successful time at Middlesbrough and important matches.
“So, of course, at your time at the club at Chelsea, if you can name one player, do you think, which player would it be you say, this is the best player I played with?”
Partnerships on the Pitch
49:41 to 51:04
Discuss the unique playing styles and partnerships with Viduka and Gudjohnsen.
“Yeah, and even though sometimes I came in midfield, sometimes, but Aida was more like the number 10.”
Transcript
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1:06John Obi Mikel:right another episode of the obi-wan podcast yes obi i'm pleased to have the one and only jimmy floyd hustle bank thank you thank you thank you it's a pleasure thank you very much for being on the obi-wan podcast how are you how's the
1:22Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink:family how's it going family good the girls are good uh one is doing her gcses the other one is doing her a levels so a lot of studying in the house uh well one the one who's doing the a levels is is boarding so she's not at the house but uh she's doing she's doing well uh the little one she's the boss and she she rules the house and yeah it's all good uh the wife still says that she loves me so you know so life is good happy family happy man huh yeah yeah yeah yeah we we you know how it is the older you get uh um you know the calmer you become and yeah um the little things are more important you know like like family love from the family health uh you know so yeah i'm i'm blessed in that sense you know with the family and and with my girls and my big girl in holland and i'm a granddad as well so wow so yeah so i didn't know that yes yes yes I'm a granddad of a four year old.
2:39Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink:This, this month, she's going to be five. So my big girl is, is 29. I'm getting on a little bit. I'm getting on. But you still look amazing. Well, I work a little bit, paddle,
2:53John Obi Mikel:play a little bit, a little bit running. So that's what's keeping you busy. I was going to ask that as well. And I know you are into your golf as well. No,
3:01Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink:no, no, I'm not.
3:02John Obi Mikel:I'm bad at golf.
3:03Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink:Are you really? I'm bad. I am now hooked I'm now hooked on paddle Paddle oh wow That's what I play as well Yes Let's play Yeah let's play Let's get a game together I'm hooked Hooked Hooked And I've only just started 7-8 months ago Oh wow And I'm hooked It's a great sport isn't it Me and Robbie Di Matteo We play once a week Really Yeah And we try to play against Peter Cech And Carlo Cudicini Oh right So the goalkeepers We play The goalkeepers Yes Yes. That's good.
3:35John Obi Mikel:You should play against JT. I hear he's very good as well.
3:36Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink:No, JT is too good at the moment. No, no. JT is too good at the moment. I have to stay away from JT. Secret lessons and a little bit. And then because JT's partner is Jody Morris. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I hear they're both very, very good. They're very good. Yeah. They're very good. So I'm waiting until I become a little bit better. And then I knock on that door again.
3:58John Obi Mikel:Oh, that's good. Maybe we'll get a game one day. Please. Please. please alright let's talk about our club obviously Chelsea yes obviously this isn't its finish what do you make of how we finished the season
4:11Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink:the finish was absolutely very good they played against Liverpool at home Man United at home away at Nottingham Forest where everybody all the pundits especially your friend Jamie he's my friend
4:34Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink:friend especially your friend Jamie didn't rate that Chelsea would be able to do it they done it very professionally in a way that they played really for the result and got the result um um and got the objective really that that what they wanted of the season and then also uh they got a trophy um everybody says yeah it's a mickey mouse competition but you still have to go and win it exactly you still have to beat uh teams and you still have to go and win it and and that's the same in the league for the last few matches they can everybody can say well Liverpool was already champion and Man United was not playing, blah, blah, all these kinds of stuff.
5:27Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink:But you still have to go and put the ball in the net. That's true. You know, people forget that, that you still have to go out there and, and do the job. They done the job. Um, and going away at Nottingham Forest, they done the job. So for me, yes, they had a spell where it was, uh, difficult. Um, um, it's a young team. the club has gone that direction with young players. So you have to give them that room of, of, of failure. Yeah. That's going to happen. Yeah. We had that period,
6:04John Obi Mikel:didn't we? During the festive period where we stopped winning games. Yeah. So,
6:08Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink:so, so you're not going to be consistent. That is, that is just how young players are. Yeah. And you have to give that room. They came good at the end. and now they've won a cup. The game that was important, the last game of the season, they got through that and they will learn a lot from that pressure. Yeah. That pressure is actually more important for their future than winning the game. Yeah. Yeah. Because you can't train that. Exactly. You can't train that. You have to go through that. You know, to get that kind of experience. And that kind of experience will only benefit them. Sure. So overall for me, the season was good.
7:01Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink:And they are in the Champions League. The club needs to be in the Champions League. Exactly. It needs to be in the Champions League. That is where all the big clubs are. And now hopefully they can add a few more players. today I read that the goalkeeper of AC Milan, the French national team, what excites me a lot I really like that side, but he's a winner, he's a leader and I think if we can get that over the line then you don't see those kind of leaders no more so to have that in your team And so Fernandes has become one of those leaders. You know, and if you can get one or two more of these kind of players, it will only benefit the young players and benefit the team, I think.
8:01John Obi Mikel:That's good. Just talking about the players as well and the areas where we need to strengthen as well. I think obviously the big one is the lap coming into the football club. What do you make of him? 22 years old, 22 goals last season. Do you think he's the answer? I mean, he's another young player. Do you think the club would have gone for somebody, you know, already made striker, somebody who's been there, done it, knows how to win trophies? Or do you think the lap is the way to go?
8:30Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink:Obi, there are no strikers who have done it at the moment, who are the strikers like the Shearers. Or Semen, Isak maybe. Maybe. Isaac, I think Isaac will, if he leaves Newcastle, I think he will only go to one club. Which one is that? Unfortunately, it's not Chelsea. Okay. Yeah. But he supports apparently one club that he wants to go to. Okay. I love Isaac. I think he's magnificent. Honestly, magnificent. Then you have Haaland. You're not going to get Haaland. Yeah. And then you have other strikers outside of England. You know, you have got Watkins, but Willa let him go. Yeah. Then you have got Ossiman.
9:36Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink:Yeah.
9:37John Obi Mikel:Yeah. And I know he's your country, man.
9:45But I'm not convinced.
9:46Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink:Okay. I'm not convinced of Ozyman for the Premier League. Okay. Yeah. For Spain, for Italy, yes. For Premier League. I'm not 100 % sure. uh i really i really like jackson people look at me yeah really jimmy i really like jackson i really like jackson why because a he brings a lot of energy to the team and and and um people don't see that you know the pressing from the front yeah the work rate all that kind of stuff is is very important for a successful team then he gets lots of chances there you go he gets lots of chances but it doesn't take yes but but for me that's the argument though when i talk about him yes it is an argument and he needs to get better at that yes but i rather have a striker that gets lots of chances than a striker who doesn't get chances yes exactly yeah yeah yeah So first of all, he's getting chances.
10:58Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink:Now we can work on him.
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11:45Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink:Finishing. To finishing and make him calmer and make him understand. Let's not forget. Before Villarreal, he was playing nowhere. okay yeah yeah so he started at vrl and now he's here yeah and he's still very young yeah what is it 20 i think 23 23 yeah yeah so so you can still improve him of the 10 chances you're not going to improve him that he's going to score 10 yeah but if he can score 20 percent 15 20 percent more it's going to be a hell of a he's scoring already now 14, 15, 16 goals per season. Yeah. Yeah. So if you can get him to score four more 20 goals per season 22, 25
12:35John Obi Mikel:something like that. Yeah.
12:36Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink:But experience will only give him that. Yeah. And somebody to work with him will only give him that. You understand? Yeah. I think, I feel going back to the lap. Yes. I do like him but it's only his first year in the Premier League. Yeah. Goodbye, very goodbye. And I would like to see him compete with Jackson for the number one spot. But it's going to be different playing for him. As you know, normally Chelsea is very dominant. So he won't get a lot of space around the box instead of playing for Ipswich, where you have got a lot of space behind the opposition defenders.
13:20John Obi Mikel:Yeah.
13:20Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink:So it's a different kind of play.
13:23John Obi Mikel:Do you think he's going to be a striker that will straight away, you know, start scoring goals, obviously, like you did when he joined Chelsea, straight away? You know, you set the wall on fire by scoring goals. Do you think we will see De Lape do that? Or he needs time to develop. He's only 22. He will get better.
13:43Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink:Well, I hope he does. I hope he starts scoring straight away. and then that development will go easier. You know, if he's going to struggle in the beginning with goals, I think some players mentally have got a difficulty, you know. It's a mental game. For a striker, it's a mental game. The moment you start feeling good, you can move mountains. so you need to put him in a place where he's going to start feeling good and it all depends who's going to play more and who's going to then deliver you know that's what it is about and they they both have got something unknown unknown yeah different different qualities Different qualities, something unknown.
14:42Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink:Technically, I think the lab is a little bit further. Yeah. But then understandable, you know, of the game, I think they're more or less par, you know? Yeah, yeah. But the lab has got the education, you know, of Man City and stuff. So it might be a little bit easier for him, but I would like to see how many chances he creates, how many chances he gets, and then how many does he put away. Betwinner, home of two winners.
15:21John Obi Mikel:You know, we talk a lot about, you know, strikers that say, oh, this striker is a natural, natural finisher. You've played with so many strikers. You've come across so many. who's who's will you look at out there and say oh this for me this is a natural natural uh born finisher somebody can just take take a chance and finish at the moment at the moment yeah at the moment yeah at the moment natural finisher yeah uh isaac natural finisher better
15:53Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink:than Haaland? Haaland is a one-touch finisher. Yeah? If you look at the goals that he scores, it's unbelievable, but his movement is quickly in front, one-touch finish. That is where he is the best. He doesn't score really a lot of goals outside of box, really not that much, but his movement in the box is he smells where he needs to be yeah he anticipates and that is that is amazing but 1v1 if you go for 1v1 and you're running at a goal and you have Isaac running at he finds the corners if you if you see Haaland sometimes when he has three four touches and then finish it's not always as clean as when he has one touch finish yeah yeah yeah the best finisher at the moment i think and he's not an out and out striker is is Cole Palmer oh Palmer he's so calm in front of the ball have a look have a look when he passes the ball in the net into the net he passes he doesn't go boom he passes the ball in the net he looked the goalkeeper he passes sometimes it's not about the power you mean it's just about how you it is majority of the time not about the power and the lap at times uses too much power i used to do that yeah that's i was gonna say yeah i used a lot of power i mean your shot was like yeah but majority i used to use the power outside the box outside the box yeah but then what i learned later side foot in the box you know um and the lap at times uses his laces in the box he will he will he will understand that you know side foot past goalkeeper is harder for the goalkeeper to to to save yeah what i used to do i used to talk a lot to goalkeepers i used to ask them what is harder honestly i honestly really yes because you want to go into the goalkeeper's mind as mine yeah yeah oh amazing i used to ask them what what is what is what is uh harder for you to stop and all that kind of stuff when you come and pass it it's it's and i had also a very hard inside foot so i could hit the ball good power but with the inside you know so and palmer has that okay that's good i'll think about that all right let's talk
18:26John Obi Mikel:about the manager obviously moreska what do you think of him uh first of all what do you think of him as a manager. And then again, what do you make of, what is your realistic object? What do you think the realistic object is for the team next season in terms of moving forward? Now we've qualified for the Champions League. What do you think the realistic object will be next season?
18:49Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink:So I like him. I think he's done exceptionally well with a lot of trouble. It was not easy. He inherited a lot of players. and as a manager and I've been a manager it's not easy to have too many players and what he did really well at the beginning of the season and it might sound very hard but he says I'm going to work with this group I'm sorry guys I'm not going to work with you you need to find another club as hard as it sounds it sounds yeah it's not nice he was honest with the players yeah and I like that yeah boom this is what I'm going to do and he worked with these players. He had a style of how to play.
19:37Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink:You like it or you're not, but he had a style and he stayed with that. He kept true to himself. And at times it was breathtaking to watch. Yeah, yeah, yeah. When teams found us out, we had sometimes difficulties, but I think players need to step up then at times because you're going to have those moments. He has delivered. He has got the team at a certain place, especially, you know yourself, Obi, the important time of the season is the latter end of the season. Yes, yes. When you really start playing. Playing well, yeah. Well and playing for things. Something, yeah, exactly, yeah. When they start playing for something, they were focused and got the results.
Read the full transcript
20:36Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink:So now it is, they are in the Champions League. Do they need to strengthen the team? Yes. Do they need more competitions in places? I think so. If they want to compete, yeah?
20:52John Obi Mikel:Yeah.
20:53Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink:They cannot drop. so they have got so for next year you have to the gap between you and Liverpool or you and the number one has to be closer has to be smaller yeah exactly has to be smaller yeah yeah and you need to go in the Champions League as far as possible yeah yeah if that is quarterfinal or whatever yes minimum
21:16John Obi Mikel:but the gap with the number one needs to be closer we need to be we need to be a bit more closer we need to be closer yeah exactly need to be closer Yeah, let's talk about you, obviously, in terms of, you know, management. Me? Yeah, of course. You've doubled, you know, in the management area. I have. Is that something you're still trying to pursue? Is there still a calling for that?
21:37Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink:I would love to. I would love to. I would love to. My best job would be...
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22:35Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink:working for somebody in the Premier League helping somebody coaching working with the players a little bit like what I've done for the England national team yeah
22:46John Obi Mikel:is that what you enjoy now Do you not fancy being a number one like you did when you coached Burton Albion with Sparrow Rangers? You don't feel like you still want to be the number one?
22:57Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink:No, I would if the right opportunity came. I have applied for certain opportunities that excite me, but people don't call me back. Oh, wow.
23:12John Obi Mikel:No way.
23:12Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink:People don't call back or I've emailed certain clubs. You don't get an email back. I have called the directors of football. You don't get a call back or you get like, I will call you tomorrow and no call back. You don't get interviews. It's so difficult. It's so difficult. So I would love to stay in football. So that's why I'm saying I would love to, help somebody, uh, coach and, and help somebody, uh, um, you know, uh, to give them something, you know, give them some, some kind of, uh, help, you know?
23:59John Obi Mikel:But why do you think, just want to go back to that. Why do you think those clubs and those sporting directors, why do you think you're not getting those phone calls back? Like you think is, what is it? Is this something to do with, I don't know. Is this something to do with, with, with, with color? You know, this has been around that we know we've talked about it, but is it something to do with black managers not getting the opportunities just like the other managers are?
24:28Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink:Obi, I find this topic very difficult to speak about because it's a very sensitive one. I don't know. I don't know. I do know that I have had to take all my badges and I took all my badges to get an opportunity. I was told that I needed to start at the bottom. I did that, you know. I won certain leagues. I left Burton at the top place. I worked with England, with the best players of England, best talent I got an opportunity by by Garrett Southgate who who was absolutely magnificent and let me be me you know amongst the players what was absolutely magnificent and and a great experience but when I apply for jobs I don't get them I don't get them I don't even get close you know so what it might be i don't know i have i have got absolutely no idea um i do know that a lot of a lot of black managers they don't get the opportunities you know um why that is i can't give you an answer you know uh the only thing that i can do is stay positive if I fancy a job go for it and keep on knocking on people's door and hopefully one day somebody opens that door you know and give me an opportunity and show them how good I am because I believe in myself you know I've got lots of experience lots of ideas in my head lots of things that I've seen and yeah, I love football.
26:32John Obi Mikel:It's in our blood. Exactly. You know? Yeah. Yeah. Well, I hope the opportunity comes one day. A few words about our proud sponsors. Betwinner is your reliable partner in the world of sports betting. Enjoy placing bets on any sports event with great odds and maximum convenience. Visit betwinner.com now. Let's talk about, obviously, we've just mentioned Garrett Southgate there. You were part of his coaching staff and the 2024 euros you guys got to obviously the finals. What do you, what do you make of the, of the, the style, you know, Garrett, you know, play sometimes it was a little bit pragmatic.
27:08John Obi Mikel:People said, and also the criticism he got, do you think that was, some of it was, was, was fair to him? Some of most of the criticism he got, because I met him in Munich the other day, a couple of days ago, and we talked about it a little bit. And he said, he understood a little bit the criticism of of that that he got from from the fans from the public uh it's just that he couldn't get the the the team over the line do you think he could have been a little bit more uh expensive the way you guys played not to think about losing rather than winning because Thomas Tuchel has taken over right now and he said the first thing he needs to change is the team not thinking about losing, but thinking about winning the games.
27:51Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink:I think Garrett done an absolutely magnificent job. Yeah. First and foremost. Yes, we didn't get it over the line, but he done a magnificent job. Let's not forget when he took over, where he took it from. Yeah. And what he has done and where he has left that. he's gone in two finals yeah he's gone semi-final World Cup he's gone in a final outside of England nobody has done yeah so first and foremost you need to look at that second of all we talk about style yeah Yeah. Style can always be better, but winning is the most important thing. Yeah. How many years Newcastle back in the day, Kevin Keegan was trying to do style and winning.
29:02Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink:Only Man City has done that. And it didn't happen overnight. You understand what I'm saying?
29:12John Obi Mikel:Yeah.
29:12Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink:So, so for you to be a winner first, majority of the times you have to be in a certain way and you have to, uh, um, win. Yeah. However you win. Yeah. And then you add style. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. People forget that. Now, can you, could we be more open and of course we could be. Yeah. Of course.
29:42John Obi Mikel:You could play with 10 strikers. Is that something you guys actually maybe talked about?
29:47Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink:Yeah, but you want to win. You can play with 10 strikers. And then if you lose, people complain, oh, you need to be more defensive. So you can never win. You can never win. Garrett put a team together that he thought that was the best way to go forward and win the tournament. That is the most important. He put players that he thought that could win the game. Yeah. And then you can say, oh, you do this. No, he put with the right intention. He didn't put to go and lose. He put to go and win. Yeah. To go and win. And we almost did. Now, Spain was, was, was, was better. Yeah. You know, at the end.
30:34Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink:Yeah. Yeah. and did we had a great tournament playing wise we could have played better but if we were Italy they would not have complained about the playing yeah
30:58John Obi Mikel:they would
30:59Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink:not have complained about the playing yeah they would have when we beat the on penalties and on 1-0 the Italians would say absolutely magnificent they would be magnificent yeah and they would be behind the national team yeah yeah yeah okay right yeah yeah yeah
31:20John Obi Mikel:yeah
31:21Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink:Garrett has done a magnificent job honestly believe you me the next one now he has to win it
31:28John Obi Mikel:Thomas Torku yeah he has to win it because you guys have taken the team to the highest which is the finals and twice. Yeah. And let's not forget, let's not forget
31:37Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink:Garrett, Steve Holland,
31:40John Obi Mikel:who you know really well.
31:42Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink:Yeah. Yeah. They've done a magnificent job.
31:44John Obi Mikel:Yeah.
31:45Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink:Honestly.
31:45John Obi Mikel:Yeah, definitely. Right. Okay. Let's look at, back to your own career, obviously. Let's start from where you started, obviously. Leeds United. Yes. You know, you were there two seasons, you were top scorers there.
31:59Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink:Yeah.
31:59John Obi Mikel:And then of course, what happened, happened. Yes. You know, you wanted to leave I actually wanted to stay I wanted to stay you actually need a contract
32:10Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink:I asked for a new contract we were negotiating and the negotiator didn't go where we wanted and I left you know I left
32:22John Obi Mikel:I left to Atletico Madrid okay oh wow but you wanted to but you wanted to move somewhere to another club in England but they refused to sell you to another club in England so Chelsea came in for me
32:32Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink:that year. They didn't want to sell me to Chelsea.
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33:17John Obi Mikel:And the season's most overlooked little green vegetable is dressed to be devoured. You know what to do. Order on the Sweetgreen app.
33:28Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink:And I had to go abroad. So I went to Atletico Madrid, who at the time was a very good club. They were willing to pay my transfer fee. And I went to go and have that challenge, you know, in Spain. What was a great experience. uh obviously uh before leeds i was in portugal and i was at the border of spain so i i um i i knew the spanish culture a little bit a little bit yeah you know so it was not um that different of the portuguese uh culture really um and um yeah i i had personally a great time but we got relegated yeah yeah unbelievable we got relegated and i scored that year obi i scored 37 goals 37 goals something like that in total i scored 37 goals and we got relegated unbelievable that's incredible so uh but we had lots of trouble at the club the administrators came in uh players were not getting paid and players didn't want to play and yeah when you have that kind of stuff you know uh you end up losing lots of matches and you end up going down
34:58John Obi Mikel:yeah i know you talked about it you've talked about a few times um you know when you when you wanted to sign a new contract at leads and they didn't want to offer you what you wanted and and they asked you to hand in a transfer request do you think that the club did make
35:15Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink:you escape go they left you and hang to dry yes they did they did because the moment i signed the the, uh, the, the, the transfer request, it was, uh, not even an hour later, it was in the press, you know, so it was on Sky Sport News. Wow. So, and then all the fans were against me, you know, so, yeah. Um, but look, uh, you get thick skin, you have to have thick skin. Yeah. Yeah. In this game. Yeah. Um, and, uh, you have to move on. You can't stand still, you know, You have to run, my friend. You have to run.
35:55John Obi Mikel:And then, of course, you came to our beloved club, Chelsea. And, of course, your partnership with your mate, Ada Goodjonsson. You became the top scorer. You won the Golden Boot in 2001. You had the likes of Thierry Henry and Mike Lowe and finished behind you. Wow. I mean, the list there. Yeah, look.
36:20Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink:We had those days, we had lots of strikers, you know, Anasheer, Dwight Jok, Cole, Hundry, Michael Owen, Husky. Rudvan Nesteroj. Rudvan Nesteroj came a year later. A year later, okay. Solskjaer. We had so many. Dennis Bergkamp, Ian Wright. we had so many strikers yeah so you had to compete you had to compete you know every almost every team had really a leading scorer you know and not a mediocre one you're talking about top top strikers top top strikers Les Ferdinand oh wow you know Teddy Sheringham you know so many
37:17John Obi Mikel:and these names
37:17Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink:you finished ahead of all of them.
37:20John Obi Mikel:Oh, yeah.
37:21Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink:Not all were like out-and-out goal scorers, you know? I didn't had what a lot of them had, so I had to compensate it with more goals. Right. You know, so I remember Makalili always say to me, Jimmy, goals, goals, goals, score, score, score. You know, just score, just score. and if I didn't score in a match after the match you see he didn't score you know he was always on my case you know so but yeah you know and it's a it's a pity not to see that many strikers at the moment but I think they will come back
38:05John Obi Mikel:hopefully obviously Viali brought you to the club right and then he left and then Club Urinary came to the club what was your relationship with him because you know you thought the manager that brought you has just left and you know what you're going to expect from him but then that was where you then had your best season didn't you
38:25Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink:obi i'm actually i was actually uh uh lucky because i had uh ranieri at atletico madrid oh he was my manager and he left so he knew me you knew you and i scored for him 30 odd goals at Atletic Madrid. All right. So he loved me as well.
38:46John Obi Mikel:So you were happy he was coming.
38:49Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink:I was happy he was coming and he was happy to see me, you know? So that year I scored 23 goals in the league, you know? And I remember his first goal, first game, was against Man United that we played 3-3 and I scored the 1-0, you know? So, yeah, no, look, it's, he was good, he was at that time, the first two years, he was good for me. He was good. He was good for me. He, uh, he believed in me. He, um, he, um, supported me. Uh, and, and to be fair, I repaid him. You repaid him. Yeah. And I repaid the team. It was in the last year when, uh, Abramovich came that in my last year that I was a little bit disappointed with.
39:40Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink:Okay. You know, um, um um but look uh football is football um you can't be uh uh you you don't take things personal
39:52John Obi Mikel:you need to move on exactly and again you need to produce you know exactly but then of course the special one came into came to the club yes um what was your relationship with with him i never
40:04Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink:spoke to him i left that summer or you left that summer or you didn't get to meet him i didn't get to meet him so I left Peter Kenyon called me said Jimmy we know you have one year left but we want to bring in a few other strikers and you are more than happy to look for a new club so that was the year that I left to Middlesbrough and yeah I never spoke to him he never called me to see how or whatever he did say later on it was a mistake of him to let me go because that year they became champion but in the beginning they didn't score a lot of goals
40:48John Obi Mikel:yeah yeah I remember was it Drogba came Drogba came and he wasn't scoring a lot of goals he didn't score he had a very difficult
40:54Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink:start yeah very difficult start look Drogba was has been amazing for for Chelsea yeah absolutely magnificent scored a lot of important goals important goals not a lot of goals yeah a lot of important goals yeah yeah yeah and obviously it was a handful you played with him yeah it was a handful for defenders you know so what a buy for the club yeah you know what a buy but that year at the beginning he had a difficult
41:30John Obi Mikel:he had a difficult time yeah in 2003 there was a little bit of a rumor circling around that you know that Barcelona wanted you. Tell us about that. That was done. Was there a truth about it? Was done.
41:42Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink:That was done. Was done. Contract agreed. Wow.
41:49Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink:The price for me to go there from club to club agreed. Everything was agreed. Van Gaal was the manager who had me a couple of years before at the national team. He wanted me to come to Barcelona. We played Man United. Ranieri asked me, do you want to play last match? I said, yeah, I'll play. Neffel kicked me, so I had to come off the game. My ankle was swollen, but nothing really bad. Then Barcelona had a game against Valencia at home, and Barcelona lost bad. Lost bad. Um, uh, then, um, um, Van Gaal was sacked that evening was sacked. Wow. Yeah. And the deal was off.
42:49John Obi Mikel:Really? Yeah. So if Van Gaal stayed, you would have joined Barcelona in 2003. If Van Gaal stayed, I would have joined Barcelona. Wow. That is crazy. And in 2003, 2004, obviously you lost the semifinals against Monaco.
43:05Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink:Yeah.
43:06John Obi Mikel:How much did that hurt you guys?
43:09Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink:That was the year that we had to win the Champions League. That was the year that we had to win. And then if we won it that year, there wouldn't be any Mourinho. Really? Because we would have played Porto and we would have won.
43:25John Obi Mikel:Low energy, unfocused, foggy, you might be dehydrated. Gatorade Zero Powders have been scientifically designed to help improve hydration balance in the body. with a clinically proven electrolyte blend and no artificial colors or flavors. Great tasting hydration no matter where you're going. Shop now online or at retailers nationwide. Gatorade hydrates better than water. Is it in you? Symptoms noted are signs of mild to moderate dehydration. Consult a healthcare professional if symptoms persist. Brussels clean up nicely at Sweetgreen. Maple glazed, roasted, and edges perfectly caramelized. Sweetgreen's fall harvest is back on the menu and the season's most overlooked little green vegetable is dressed to be devoured.
44:09John Obi Mikel:You know what to do. Order on the Sweet Green app.
44:13Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink:Against Porto and then Mourinho would not have come to Chelsea. That's how fine line football is. We should have never lost against Monaco. Never. We were winning. It was 1-1. Yeah, it was 1-1. They were playing with 10 men. They went 10 men. and we went on the attack and they scored twice. And we lose against 10 men, 3-1. I think. Yeah. That's crazy. If we kept it 1-1, they now need to come to the bridge and they need to attack. And we can, in a way, sit back or wait for the right moment. 0-0 for us, puts us through to the final. Wow. Yeah. That's crazy.
45:05Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink:fine lines talking about it is so painful because that was the year that we should have won the Champions League we go to Arsenal so we drew at home against Arsenal in the quarterfinal we go away to Arsenal we win there Wayne Bridge scores we win there 2-1 we are in the semi-final Arsenal was actually the biggest club with us remaining. There was Porto. I don't know who Porto played. There was Porto, Monaco, and one more. Enos. That's crazy. So on paper, really, on paper, we don't play football on paper, but on paper, we should have beaten Monaco. Yeah. And you go and beat Porto as well.
46:02John Obi Mikel:Betwinner, your bets, your wins. So, of course, at your time at the club at Chelsea, if you can name one player, do you think, which player would it be you say, this is the best player I played with? At Chelsea? Yeah.
46:19Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink:Oh, it has to be Gianfranco, eh? Oh, Gianfranco, so. Technically, you mean, technically? Yeah, technically. Technically, Gianfranco, but for me, the connection that I had with him was Ida Goodjohnson. Ida Goodjohnson, yeah. How good was he, I know? He's underrated. Wow. He's underrated. I think some is a little bit his fault as well because he could be more dominant. but technically vision enough power he's got it all he's got it all can score goals can make goals technically good knows where players are understands the tactical side of the game yeah he was very very very good very very good
47:16John Obi Mikel:he was amazing that's good and your time at Middlesbrough how did that play out? good
47:25Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink:so so amazing I went to Middlesbrough we had a great team old older I cannot say old we had Hugo Akiok we had Garrett Southgate yeah we had Mendieta Mendieta yeah we had Bolo Sanden we had George Boateng oh wow okay We had Fiduka. We had me. We had Jakubu. Came later. Came later. Yeah. We had, who more we had? We had, we had Schwarzer, Mark Schwarzer. And who was the manager then? Steve McLaren. Steve McLaren, yeah. How was he? Yeah, he was good. Very good coach. Very, very, very good coach. I liked him. Training was always very good. We played really well the first year. We got seventh the first year, the highest ever Middlesbrough came in the league.
48:46Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink:We got into Europe. Second year, we got in the final of the UEFA Cup. Oh, wow. against Seville. They beat us. They didn't just beat us. Yeah. They killed us. Maresca scored twice. Really? Yes. Enzo scored twice. Enzo scored twice. Twice. He killed us. Killed us. They had such a good team. They had such a, they had Navas. They had the right back from Barcelona, the Brazilian one. they had Canute they had so many good players they killed us they killed us we lost 4-0 easy but going back the time at Mirosba was so good and I had two wonderful years we went to a semi-final of the FA Cup, we lost that in the second year against West Ham we went to that UEFA Cup final the year before we got 7th in it never happened in a Middlesbrough history wow you know I scored a lot of goals I enjoyed playing with Viduka up front
50:06John Obi Mikel:yeah I was going to talk about that so your partnership with Mark Viduka such a good player compared to your partnership with Edgar Godinjonsson if you have to pick one different different
50:16Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink:different totally different because my partnership with Aida, I was more like the number nine. Okay. Yeah, and even though sometimes I came in midfield, sometimes, but Aida was more like the number 10. Number 10, yeah, yeah. With Faduka, it was the other way around. It was the other way around. Faduka was the number nine. And you were like the number 10. And I was more or less behind him and going in spaces and stuff, you know? So, but people again underestimate Faduka. He's such a good, technically, such a good player for a big man. And he's very strong. Oh, he was good.
50:57John Obi Mikel:He was good.
50:57Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink:So strong. Yeah, really strong. Holding the ball and stuff. And yeah, so good. Amazing.
51:03John Obi Mikel:Well, thank you, Jimmy Floyd. A pleasure having you on the podcast. Thank you, man. Thank you so much. Thank you for coming. Yes.
51:32John Obi Mikel:We'll see you next time.
From the publisher
On the latest episode of the Obi One Podcast, John Obi Mikel sits down for a chat with another Chelsea great: Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.
The former Blues No9 gives his verdict on the current Chelsea side under Enzo Maresca, gives his full backing to an under-fire Nicholas Jackson and explains why he DOESN’T want Victor Osimhen at Stamford Bridge.
Jimmy also reflects on his own time in West London, why the calibre of striker in the Premier League at that time drove him to greater heights and there’s the TRUTH behind his Chelsea exit.
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