Aissati finds plenty at Twente

Having enjoyed uninterrupted first-team football on loan at FC Twente, playmaker Ismaïl Aissati is sure to be at his sharpest for the UEFA European Under-21 Championship finals.

Dutch record
Aissati made his name back on 19 October 2005, when he became the youngest Dutch UEFA Champions League debutant, playing for PSV Eindhoven against AC Milan aged 17 years and 64 days. However, opportunities were hard to come by in the Eredivisie, especially following the appointment last summer of coach Ronald Koeman.

Loan switch
Frustrated at making just ten substitute appearances in the league during the autumn, despite having returned from the U21 finals in Portugal as the youngest member of the Team of the Tournament, he gratefully accepted the chance of a loan move to Twente. It was a transfer neither the club, the player nor the Jong Oranje would regret. "It is good for my development to play at a club where I see Eredivisie action every week," explained the Utrecht-born midfielder, who is of Moroccan parentage, of his decision to rejoin former PSV coaches Fred Rutten and René Eijkelkamp in Enschede. "I chose Twente because I worked with Rutten and Eijkelkamp at PSV. They were very important for me."

Great results
Rutten was only too glad to see his former pupil again, saying: "I know Ismaïl very well as I worked with him a lot and know how much he has to offer this Twente side." Sure enough, in Aissati's 12 Eredivisie starts and two substitute cameos, Twente lost just once - at PSV - and ended up fourth in the table, earning at least a UEFA Cup place. The diminutive attacker has long had a reputation at PSV for pinpoint passing. Captain Phillip Cocu said: "He plays like he has been performing at the top level for years. He might be a little bit timid off the field, but on the pitch he is not afraid of anyone - he keeps the ball, has good vision and an excellent pass."

Fans' tribute
Those skills have only been enhanced by his stay at Twente, and the Jong Oranje are already benefiting from the confidence boost. He set up two goals for Otman Bakkal - another PSV youngster loaned to Twente - in February's 3-0 friendly win against Russia, prompting coach Foppe de Haan to say: "You can tell they play together at Twente. They can find each other with their eyes closed." Twente fans warmed to the 18-year-old, even serenading him from the stands with a revision of the traditional song She'll Be Coming Round The Mountain: "Singing ai, Aissati, yippee yeah." "It gives me a real lift when I hear that," he said. Netherlands supporters will be hoping to put the song to good use at the U21 tournament this summer.