The counter offer of FC Utrecht
Nevertheless, it was time to play an open card with Utrecht, he found. Then the club could also go for replacement.
On Friday, July 21, he entered the office of trainer Erik ten Hag, with the announcement that he was likely to play in Australia.
"If you want, you have to go," said Ten Hag. "But can we do something about it? Can we offer you something else? "
Actually not, thought Brama. Even though he was wondering what the offer of Utrecht would look like.
"Can we offer you something else?"
The next morning, Groener received a mail from Technical Manager Jordy Zuidam with a three-year deal, including promising words about his game at FC Utrecht.
"You did it very well, you're reliable, you've become important to the team, so I do not want to lose you," Ten Hag Brama said later.
The offer did not make a departure easier. He felt like he was in Utrecht, he had Ten Hag high, so that was mutual.
The question was how Mariners' offer would look like.
97 percent sure it goes on
Immediately after the conversation with Ten Hag, Brama said to Groener that a concrete offer should be quickly. He wanted to clarify Ten Hag.
And he wanted to know where he was. It would not be the first time he'd been abroad abroad, until a transfer went on.
Two years ago - in the summer of 2015 - he could, for example, go to the Japanese Gamba Osaka. Once Gamba had sold another player, it would be round. A few days later Ten Hag reported to Brama: did he want to play football at Utrecht?
That stopped Brama - he wanted to go to Japan. But it took and lasted, until it turned out that Gamba could not sell that other player. And now, Utrecht was no longer an option, because at Brama's position Ten Hag had bought Rico Strieder.
Later that same summer, it seemed "95 percent sure" that he could go to Sydney FC. Brama: "Depended on the departure of their star player [Milos Dimitrijevic, [Milos Dimitrijevic, MdH] to a European club. I had already spoken to the trainer. We had already found a home in Sydney online. '
But Dimitrijevic wanted to finally stay. The trainer who wanted him so much, did not want him anymore. And so it became not Osaka, not Utrecht, not Sydney, but PEC Zwolle. PEC Zwolle.
Or last February - then he would go to Melbourne City. His girlfriend dropped him off at the stadium of PEC Zwolle, so he told trainer Ron Jans that he was leaving. Then quickly return the car to, to the airport to get around in Manchester The selection would take place in Manchester because Melbourne City is owned by Manchester City owners. to have medical approval.
He was already in the stadium on his way to Jans' office, when Groener called: the City Group 's leadership City Group - owner of Manchester City, New York City FC and Melbourne City - had the transfer fat diet.
The faster clarity, the better so, that taught these episodes of the past.
And Sunday July 23th there was clarity. Groener still did not have a concept contract, but he assured Brama that it was "97 percent sure" that it would come. If he said yes, it would come around.
Brama said yes, drank a glass of wine, and told his parents that evening later that night. Those were proud and weird: their 30-year-old son Meanwhile, Brama is 31 and girlfriend would go to the other side of the world.
Can you stay until September 1st?
Two days later, on Tuesday, he put his digital signature under the contract - only the medical check-up could throw some fun in the food.
He also told Ten Hag - the promising words - that he drove out of Utrecht and went to Australia.
"Okay, congratulations," he said. "But can not you stay until September 1?"
The league in Australia does not start until October, he knew. Brama could help to integrate the many new players and play in the forefront of the Europa League until then, Ten Hag thought.
That's going to be difficult, Brama said. He wanted to take the time, participate in the preparation of his new club, arrange everything for the move, and especially looking for a home.
"I understand that," said Ten Hag, "but then we will help you with the rule."
That was clever of Ten Hag. Saying no to it was difficult. But Brama kept his leg tight. Imagine that he got injured in those last matches? Then the transfer - his dream, their dream - was not possible yet. Do not continue.
Suppose he got injured in those last matches? Then the transfer was still unsuccessful
The home game against Lech Poznan would still play on July 27, because he did not want to let the club down for a short day, but that was the case.
Okay, forget September 1, Ten Hag said, but could he stay until next week Thursday? Then Brama could join both matches against Lech Poznan.
Brama: "No, I do not."
To Hag: "Why not?"
Brama: 'The chance of injury. Then it will not work. "
In Hag: "That chance is only 2 percent."
Brama: "That's 2 percent too much."
To Hag: "We can cover that. If you get injured you will still get a contract here. "
Brama: "I'm not talking about the money, it's my experience."
To my dear: "Okay. Play Thursday [July 27th, MdH] that match, then we'll talk the next morning. "
The Telegraaf gets air from the transfer
Wednesday, the day before the home game against Poznan, a Telegraph reporter called the "always well-introduced" Jeroen Kapteijns , according to Brama.
"Shit, who knew," thought Brama. "I do not get up."
On Thursday, Captain called again, and again Brama did not get up. He did not want friends and family to hear from the newspaper that he would leave. He did not want to surprise his old and new employer before they had finished their press releases.
That evening - July 27 - played Brama played the home game against Poznan, with an ankle who was not completely recovered from the actual injury Fixed injuries he had incurred in the final match of the season. (Still, the ankle is still painful, according to Brama.)
The next morning he returned to Ten Hag's office, as agreed. He immediately made it clear to Ten Hag and Jordy Zuidam what it was like: "This was really the last game."
At Hag tried again: "But you are important, important for the process, until September 1, it would be really nice."
Brama: "Sorry, but it will not happen."
To Hag: "Okay, then we'll talk about it. Congratulations.'
And then, only tenths of a second later, Ten Hag said something that made Brama gain more respect for him.
"Okay, who should we get if you follow?"
Brama entered the room as Utrechtspeler, he had just become a Mariners player, and now Ten Hag used to use him as a scout for the next few hours, as well as obtaining the last remaining return from Brama.
An animated conversation began about the future future, Bramaloze midfield. The names flew over the table. What do you think of that player? And of that?
"Erik immediately switched on," says Brama. "No sentiment, no hassle, the importance of the team first. First to keep me, then to replace me. As it should.'
Two years Australia, then home
And that was that - Brama went to Central Coast Mariners.
Now prepare calmly, inform family and friends, send a press release, search a house.
That was counted outside of the Telegraph . On Saturday morning, the newspaper reported that Brama would probably go to Melbourne based on 'sources in Australia.'
On Saturday morning, the newspaper reported that Brama would probably go to Melbourne, based on 'sources in Australia'
A couple of hours later, the apples poured from congratulations to offers for living space. "Aldo van der Laan (former driver of FC Twente, MdH) said he could help me with living space, he knew people there. So I appealed: I'm not going to Melbourne at all. "
That morning, FC Utrecht and Mariners brought the story about the true transfer to the outside.
On Monday, Captain called again, and now Brama got up. The reporter told him that he had heard of Australia contacts that he probably went to Melbourne.
Enough to make a story apparently.
From water carrier to star player
A few weeks later, Brama was wondering about his new status at Terrigal Beach, just north of Sydney.
He had always been the serving, unobtrusive player that enabled others to play better. "Now I was suddenly the big buy," the big purchase, " says Brama. "It used to get used to."
The relativation also came. The club called called on supporters to welcome Brama at the airport, remembering grand chaotic reception of players, as you see this once.
Look at Robin van Persie's arrival in Istanbul in 2015.
The rise? "Five people, three of the club."
Two years takes his contract - and then he wants to return to the Netherlands, to play for another two years, and hopefully to join a club management.
A club like Twente?
'Twente is my club. Behind the scenes is enough, there are many people who like the club. Perhaps Fred Rutten will be back at the club, maybe Ten Hag will be trained again. And maybe Twente will be big again. I'd like to hear that. "
Management lessons of Ten Hag
In his efforts to keep him at Utrecht for as long as possible, they are instructive. "I had my interest in leaving, he had his interest in keeping me," says Brama. "I'm sorry."
Too Hag was it business. "I would be a bad manager," he writes in an email, "if I would have accepted [Brama's] clause. One of your "strongholds" "Due to his coming," Ten Hag continued, "we reached spot 4 and won the final P / O EL. His arrival has had a big impact. " (strategist and leader) leave without a transfer fee. However, it was a part of the deal. "
"I'm sure Wouts departure is currently scoring three points on the rankings and I also think of the qualification [for the] group league Europa League. "
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