Sam Van Rossom in basketball retirement: legend in Spain, underestimated in Belgium? “Worshipped in Valencia”

Now that Sam Van Rossom is in his very last weeks as a basketball player, Sporza Daily would like to review the career of the now almost 38-year-old playmaker. Basketball commentator Christophe Vandegoor and Belgian basketball coach Pascal Meurs sing the praises of Van Rossom, who himself has the last word in our podcast.

With an impressive honors list and after a great foreign career, Sam Van Rossom will call it a day in a few weeks. What does he actually consider his greatest achievement on the basketball court?

“Gosh, that’s always difficult to figure out,” Van Rossom thinks. “I might go for the first EuroCup that I won with Valencia (in 2014, ed). When we became champions with Valencia, I missed the play-offs with an injury. That’s a downer, because you want to be there. “

For years, Van Rossom was the strongman at the Spanish top club Valencia, where he became a club icon in 10 seasons. Pascal Meurs, professional basketball coach in Valencia, saw it with his own eyes in Spain. He praises Van Rossom for his leadership.

His way of communicating on the pitch is really impressive.

Pascal Meurs

“It’s really impressive,” says Meurs. “We once made a video analysis of all Sam Van Rossom’s ways of communicating for our youth players. Such things are very difficult to teach to youth players. That speaks of his experience.”

An impressive communicator on the field. What else? “Van Rossom is a smart playmaker and feels the game,” says Christophe Vandegoor. “His powerful drive to the ring, the way he protected the ball, he was the best.”

“At the same time, he was also a playmaker who did not hold the ball for too long and let his team turn. Seeing where the free man is, ready for the shot. And he also scored his own points. The combination of class and skill made him European level .”

The farewell that Sam Van Rossom received in Valencia: it gives you goosebumps.

Christophe Vandegoor

In Belgium, Van Rossom may never have really received recognition for his achievements. In Valencia once again. “Here you notice that Sam is an absolute legend. He is very respected here. He is one of the biggest names in basketball,” says Pascal Meurs.

“Especially in Valencia he is held in high regard. Here no one is going to say a bad word about him. He enjoys respect at all levels of the club. That also has to do with Sam himself: an approachable and pleasant guy.”

Vandegoor: “The farewell he received there gives you goosebumps. No one will play there with Van Rossom’s number 9 again. A non-Spaniard who has lived there for 10 years and has a love for the club, that is worth a lot in Valencia. That is why he is one of the greats in Valencia’s history.”

I think Sam is anyway the best Belgian player of his generation.

Pascal Meurs

Van Rossom was also a strongman for the national team for many years: he put on the Belgian Lions jersey 121 times. “His contribution to the national team has been great,” Vandegoor emphasizes.

“He has played 4 consecutive European Championships with Belgium, and he has guided and managed a whole host of players. And even though he played in Spain and has reached a level, he has always been proud to play for the national team. to play.”

However, there was no prize with the Belgian Lions. “I think Sam is in any case the best Belgian player of his generation. At the Lions he was never able to stand next to a superstar, like the Belgian Cats have with Emma Meesseman. Otherwise, there might have been something good at the Lions too. .”

I have already registered for the Valencia marathon in December.

Sam Van Rossom

Will we see Sam Van Rossom again as a coach in the future? “He certainly has the qualities and the basketball IQ to become a great coach, but whether he also has that ambition is the question,” answers Pascal Meurs.

Van Rossom himself is not immediately enthusiastic. “I don’t have any big plans yet, but becoming a coach doesn’t mean much to me at the moment. It might come with time, although I don’t think I will go in that direction.”

A second sports career perhaps? “I have already registered for the Valencia marathon in December,” laughs Van Rossom. “So I already have a new goal to work towards. So there will be plenty to come dingskes on the path.”