Urby Emanuelson reflected on how AC Milan prepared him for Italian football. At Milanello, he had to work incredibly hard, gained kilos of muscle, and ultimately soared across the field.
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Urby Emanuelson, the former Dutch international and current assistant coach of Jong Ajax, recently reflected on his move to AC Milan during the "Dave & Drenthe" podcast.
He offered a detailed glimpse into his transition from Ajax to the Italian giants in 2011, describing it as a transformative period in both his career and personal development. Despite arriving at Milan as an experienced professional with over 200 first-team appearances for Ajax, Emanuelson quickly realized that his achievements in Amsterdam carried little weight in the eyes of his new teammates and coaches.
"At first, they thought I was a baby," Emanuelson candidly admitted. "I was 24 years old and had played so many matches at a high level, but none of that mattered. They saw me as a young kid who still had a lot to learn. To succeed there, so much about my game had to change. It wasn’t just about playing football anymore; it was about embracing a new culture, adapting to a different style of play, and pushing myself physically and mentally beyond anything I had experienced before."
One of the most vivid memories Emanuelson shared was the grueling nature of Milan’s training sessions, particularly during the preseason camps at Milanello, the club’s legendary training facility. "It was all about pushing yourself to the absolute limit," he said. The team would spend twelve days in isolation, focusing solely on preparation before heading off to participate in tournaments abroad. "We were woken up at 7 a.m. and had to run until we couldn’t anymore. There was this incredibly steep hill on the training grounds, and we had to sprint up it ten times at full speed. You’d touch a tree at the bottom, and then sprint back up again. A lot of players didn’t make it—they were throwing up, some couldn’t even walk anymore. It was relentless. For twelve straight days, we trained three times a day, and two of those sessions were without even touching a ball."
Emanuelson also detailed how the coaching staff at Milan had identified physical development as a key area for him to improve. "They thought I was too light. I weighed between 66 and 68 kilos, and they said I needed to gain seven or eight kilos to compete at the highest level in Serie A," he explained. To achieve this, Emanuelson was subjected to an intense physical regimen, often training while wearing a five-kilo weight vest. "Imagine this: we’d have to run ten times 200 meters, and for five of those runs, I’d have to do it with an extra five kilos strapped to me. I had to keep up with the pace of the group no matter what. Without the vest, I’d think, ‘I’m doing okay,’ but then they’d immediately put it back on me for the next set. It was absolute hell."
Despite the physical and mental toll, Emanuelson began to notice the benefits of the demanding program within just a few months. He gained seven kilos of muscle in three months, transforming his physique and enhancing his performance on the pitch. "At a certain point, I felt it during matches: Wow, I’m flying," he said. "That’s when I realized how much I needed this. It was essential to prepare myself for the physicality of Italian football, which was unlike anything I had encountered in the Eredivisie."
Looking back, Emanuelson expressed gratitude for the challenges he faced during his time at Milan, acknowledging how they shaped him as a player and a person. "Milan pushed me in ways I never thought possible. It wasn’t just about making me stronger physically; it was about teaching me discipline, resilience, and what it truly means to compete at the highest level. Those lessons have stayed with me throughout my career and now in my role as a coach."
The podcast offered a rare and intimate look at the demands placed on players at one of football’s most storied clubs. For Emanuelson, his time at AC Milan was not just a chapter in his playing career but a defining period that tested his limits and proved his ability to adapt and thrive in the face of immense challenges.
Updated: 11:05, 20 Jan 2025
