Jason Vermeer, Beijing Guoan's technical coach from the Netherlands, is one of the few foreign coaches in the Chinese Super League (CSL) who speaks Chinese fluently.

During an interview with Xinhua, the 30-year-old coach comfortably pronounced Peking Duck, hutong, and hot pot in Chinese, sounding like a Beijing native.

"I never studied Chinese before coming to China in 2016, but I learned quickly from my Chinese friends. When you embrace the city, it feels at home," said Vermeer. He began his career in China with the U-19 national team and joined Beijing Guoan in 2017.

As one of China's oldest football clubs, Beijing Guoan boasts a large fan base. The newly renovated Workers' Stadium is always buzzing with excitement, which deeply impressed Vermeer.

With fewer language barriers, Vermeer can better connect with the fans' emotions. "They really love the club, and so do I. I have a lot of connection and affection with the club after working here for many years," he said.

Vermeer's role is to help players improve their skills and maintain peak performance. "Technical training is the base of every football player. I do the individual training of several players, not only concentrating on development, but also recovery," he explained. "It is like a baby learning to stand, walk, jog and run step by step, and that is the same for football players."

He added, "The training mainly includes passing, receiving, heading, one-against-one skills, shooting on target and technical defending, which not only have effects on the body, but also the brain."

Based on his experience, Vermeer found that training in China should differ from European models. "Chinese players are hardworking but need to improve the creativity. Our coaches want to help those who are not that talented or less talented than the top players in Europe to grow," he noted.

Reflecting on his time in China, Vermeer views it as a valuable journey. "Maybe in Holland, as a young coach, I never had the opportunity to work with people like Roger Schmidt, Bruno Genesio and Slaven Bilic. With their philosophies combined, I learned a lot and became a more complete coach," he said.

Vermeer also explores beyond football, posting short videos about his training sessions and life in China on Douyin and WeChat.

"I live in Chaoyang District of Beijing that is vibrant and dynamic, while I can feel the traditional Chinese culture at hutong. There are both modern and ancient elements," he said. "The life in China is convenient and brings me many surprises, such as the delivery services, online car-hailing and high-speed rail."

A travel enthusiast, Vermeer enjoys seafood in coastal Qingdao and Xiamen, as well as noodles in Zhengzhou and Wuhan. "The life here is more than a benefit, while my primary target is to develop players and educate coaches," he emphasized.

"Stay patient and make good plans. There is always something to look forward to," Vermeer concluded.

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