Former Heerenveen youth coach Jan de Jonge has hailed Chelsea signing and Moroccan star Hakim Ziyech for his talent, but has also admitted that the 27-year-old had some behavioural issues while as a youngster.
The coach told France Football, as quoted by Tribal Football: “There were some behavioural problems. But otherwise he had everything. In the end, it is often those boys, who may be more difficult to control, who have something extra as a footballer.
“I don’t know how I can explain that, but often it is so. Moreover, we had not the ability to push talents into the background and replace them with new players.
“But let’s be clear: he was by no means unmanageable. He was a prankster. We once played near a farm, and Hakim thought it would be a good idea to steal a chicken there and let it go in the dressing room.
When I realised what was going on, I had to make clear to him that it might not be the best idea.”