A Peek Behind the Scenes: Inside the Locker Room
13 June 2026The FC Twente/Heracles Academy offers a chance to take a peek behind the scenes of preparations for the first tournament match against Ajax – right at the locker room door. It turns out these aren’t two separate clubs but rather a tightly collaborative academy. They’re here with 20 players and 6 members of the technical staff: three coaches, two managers, and one physiotherapist.
„You’ve got 12 minutes to get ready!“ echoes through the room. The dress code is explained, and players can receive treatment if needed.
Nothing is left to chance: The tactical plan was already shared with the players earlier, and now it’s about dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s. To prepare for this tournament, they even played a practice match against Feyenoord. „If you give them too many tactical tips now, their heads will be full, and they’ll overthink it. Right now, they know what they need to do“, say the coaches. Match reviews and set pieces are visually displayed on the wall. „Everyone basically knows what they need to do.“
The team isn’t just made up of players from the regions of Twente and Salland – it also includes five players from the Lelystad and Almere area. These players are currently part of the U15 team and will move up to the U16s next year. At 18 years old, players and clubs will sit down together to discuss their preferences.
The match ends in a 0-1 loss. Afterward, they’re not entirely dissatisfied with the tactical concept they’d devised and executed. In the second half, they increase the pressure through substitutions and even create chances to equalize – but unfortunately, it doesn’t happen. Better luck next game!
