She has been with the women's side since its inception: Nadia Coolen knows her second home in PSV Women, for whom she has played more than two hundred matches. The striker is proud of her milestones and hopes to inspire young girls.
As a player for FC Geleen Zuid, the Limburg native was already called up for national youth teams. From the boys under 18 team, she made the switch to VVV-Venlo's women's team. When that was disbanded, Nadia's adventure with PSV/FC Eindhoven Women began in 2012. It turned out to be a hit; not one player in the selection played more matches for the club than she did.
With so many matches to your name, you are an experienced player. What is your role within the group?
"I notice that I am respected because of my long time at PSV and that I quickly get questions about how things are arranged within the club. I only like that: if I can help someone, I'm happy to do so. Furthermore, I'm good with all the girls and can do my own thing in the team."
How would you describe the current group?
"We have a diverse group with a lot of quality and potential. You can clearly see a difference from the beginning of the season and that the group is making great strides quickly, which says a lot about stretch in this team. We can definitely achieve some great things together."
Has much changed in the 12 years you've been active at the club?
"There's really no comparison to the old days. In the beginning we had to wash our sports clothes every day ourselves and you still took your own sandwiches, now everything is worked out to perfection. We use improved sports facilities, for example, and data is also used to keep track of our development. That is how you want to do top sport, so I think we can be very proud of that. That jump is really bizarre, although I have to admit that it has been quite gradual over the years."
Does the same apply to your career?
"That was more incremental. I was involved with the ball from an early age: from the time I could walk, my brother took me to the football field and I've been there ever since. My main goal was not necessarily to become a full professional, it was more about having fun. Only when I was called up for national youth teams did the ball start rolling."
What would you have become differently?
"My life has always been focused on football, so I don't really know any better. Besides my pro career, I enjoyed working for the PSV Foundation as a social coach for ten years, so probably something along those lines. Through that work I took steps in my general development, how to react in some situations and approaching people. But for now I'm all about being a professional football player, what comes my way after that I'll see. There are plenty of things I find interesting within the social work field."
What makes PSV such a special place for you?
"The club is very warm and there is a family feeling, you notice that a lot. When I arrive in the morning I have already spoken to six people before I can unpack my bag. All the doors are open to have a chat, that appeals to me. Over the years it has become my second home, it remains a very familiar place and I am as proud as ever to wear the logo."
Do you also feel at home in Eindhoven?
"I think Eindhoven is a nice city, but I've been traveling back and forth to my childhood home in Sittard for years. That's not a bad thing at all, I just like to start my day quietly in the morning by going for a drive in my own bubble. I get a lot of energy from being among people, but moments for myself are also important to me. Switching back for a moment."
How do you balance "switching back" with your busy schedule as a professional athlete?
"You have to prioritize: football is my number one occupation, everything else kind of hovers around it. Being able to perform optimally on the field becomes very difficult as far as I'm concerned when you don't take moments to switch back outside of your football schedule. I try to find my way in that: in my spare time I like to retreat, but if I have a longer time off I like to spend my days with others. Then I prefer to go out to do 'simple' things: have a cup of coffee or a bite to eat. Indoors, I am very good at relaxing and occasionally watch a series. My sleeping and eating rhythm remains the same, of course."
And if we examine your individual career, what makes you most proud?
"Playing so many games for such a big, beautiful club, that's what I'm most proud of. I don't have to think long about my greatest moment: when we won the cup final in 2021. That was my first prize in the PSV Women's shirt. I am also very proud of the milestones I have achieved during my career: the number of seasons, matches and the times I became club top scorer. I want to play football for many more years and hope to experience many more great moments in this shirt."
How would your fellow players describe you?
"I am calm, reliable and loyal. This manifests itself to friends, family and teammates: it is important to me that everyone is doing well and that they feel comfortable. On the other hand, I am also very dedicated to being a football player: I pay attention to my diet, go to sleep on time and enjoy doing so. I even feel much better about myself because of that."
Are there any rituals you stick to?
"My rituals around race days keep me focused and provide a good rhythm. I often eat pasta before a race day and then often divide my day's schedule the same way. Get up quietly, shower, pack my bag and get to the club a few hours beforehand. I like to stick to that schedule."
For this, you describe your compassionate parents. How important are they to you?
"Quite! They have always supported me, I still see that as the foundation of my career. Even though I had to go to the far north with national youth teams, for example: they always went with me. Even in my twelfth year of football, they constantly take into account my professional life and think along where possible. For that, of course, I am very grateful to them."
Do you have any further examples?
"I find that a difficult question, haha. I do have to say that I was a bit starstruck when I saw Ruud van Nistelrooij walking through the corridors at the training complex. That gave me goose bumps, I thought that was so cool! I even talked to him a few times about his career, that impressed me a lot."
How do you hope to be remembered after your career?
"I hope I can inspire girls that club love still exists. Once you get somewhere good, you can continue to develop in that place just fine."
Do you have any concrete goals in the PSV Women's shirt?
"The most important thing for me is that I enjoy being on the football field every day and being of value to the team. I also try to use my experience of 12 seasons in the PSV shirt in this and transfer this to the talents joining the team."
Nadia, we've got your back. This monthly column is co-sponsored with OTTO Work Force. Our back sponsor supports anyone with the ambition to reach their personal peak.
