Coming through the ranks in Arnhem, Jansen made his debut with the club’s first team as an 18-year-old on December 12, 2002, when the Geel en Zwart lost 1-0 to Liverpool and were eliminated from the UEFA Cup.In the years that followed he built his reputation as an up-and-coming defender, playing in 72 games and scoring eight times for Vitesse as well as making his way into the Netherlands under-21 side. He was considered such a gifted player that Marco van Basten invited him to train with the Oranje in 2005.
Heart condition
But then disaster struck. On May 15 of that same year, during a home game against Ajax Jansen collided with Steven Pienaar, now of Everton, and lost consciousness. He was immediately replaced and a month later he was diagnosed with cardiac arrhythmia.
Jansen did not take part in a single competitive match ever since. And despite resuming training sessions last August, he cancelled his contract with Vitesse after “an advancing difference of opinion concerning his treatment”.
Off to Almelo
Feyenoord jumped at the chance and today announced signing the 23-year-old until the end of the season with an option to extend his contract for a further three years, should he return to action in the meantime. However, Jansen will have to look for first-team action elsewhere, as within hours from signing him Feyenoord have loaned him out to Heracles until June 30.
“This is a slice of luck for us,” technical director Peter Bosz told the Feyenoord official website. “Michael is an exceptionally talented player who has been sidelined by bad fortune for a long time. He’s now fully recovered from his heart problems. We will give him the chance to prove himself again at the highest level.”
Bosz, who had played for both Vitesse and Feyenoord himself, and coach Bert van Marwijk are still looking for reinforcements at the back, while the club have already allowed two of their defenders (Karim Saïdi on loan to Sivasspor and Pieter Collen to Sint-Truidense) to leave this month.
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