Scheduling a chat with Rainer is a bit of a puzzle. There’s an eight-hour time difference between the Netherlands and Australia. Speaking via a WhatsApp video call, he shares his story. "Sorry if I struggle with Dutch words now and then. I’ve lived here for a long time," he says with a distinct Australian accent. "Oh, and my name is pronounced like 'trainer', just without the 't'."
In the early 1990s, Rainer’s family moved to Australia. He stayed in the Netherlands for a while, until 2010, when he travelled Down Under to attend his brother's wedding. "I was the last one still living in the Netherlands. My brother was getting married and had hired a wedding planner called Lani. She’s now my wife," he says, laughing. “That’s just how life goes sometimes." Today, almost his entire family lives in Australia, and Rainer and his wife have three children, including a stepdaughter.
Following Ajax Down Under
Despite the distance, Ajax remains a part of his daily life. "If a match is played in the evening, the time difference can be tricky. But every Monday morning, my son Orlando asks me, 'Dad, how did Ajax do? Did they win?' And when I tell him they did, his face lights up. I always watch the highlights, and I follow the matches live on Ajax Radio whenever I can."
At Rainer’s home, everything is red and white. "Everyone has an Ajax shirt or jumper. And during the Euros or World Cup, when the Dutch National team is playing, my wife decorates the entire house with flags and posters. We all sit in front of the TV wearing orange."
Even though the Premier League is by far the most popular competition in Australia, Rainer occasionally meets like-minded fans. "Sometimes someone recognises my son’s Ajax shirt and starts talking about Dennis Bergkamp. That’s always nice. But it’s different here. There’s no coffee machine chat with colleagues about Ajax. That’s why I text my friends back home during matches. It’s my way of sharing the excitement."
Sometimes Eredivisie matches are on too late for Rainer, but skipping them is hard. "I’ll be in bed and feel the itch. I usually end up grabbing my earphones and tuning in to Ajax Radio. I try to listen quietly, but my wife often elbows me."
Football in Australia is nothing like the football culture in Europe, but Rainer has noticed it’s slowly gaining popularity. "I recently read that football is now the most popular sport among young people. I don’t think the Australian Football League is too happy about that," he laughs.
Awake for the Champions League
The Ajax virus is not easily contained. Even in the middle of the night, the TV is on. "The UEFA Champions League is broadcast live here, but that means 4 a.m. for us. My wife and I sit on the sofa while the kids are asleep. I try to stay quiet, but it doesn't always work. I shout, I jump up, and my wife says, ‘Calm down, the kids are sleeping!’ And I think: 'Sorry, love, but I just can't.'"
His favourite memory? "The Champions League campaign under Erik ten Hag. That semi-final against Tottenham Hotspur was heartbreaking, but the journey leading up to it was incredible. My son and I were jumping and celebrating in the living room. I’ll never forget that."
Missing the ArenA
Australia now feels like home, but there’s still something missing. "When people ask if I miss the Netherlands, I always say: no, except for the Johan Cruijff ArenA. The atmosphere, the build-up with friends before the match, having a beer, and then heading to the stadium. I miss that so much. Here, they have 'Aussie rules football' (Footy), but I don’t like it nearly as much. The scoring system is different — it just feels odd. I’ve been to my local club, Adelaide United, but it’s on such a small scale. There's no F-side, just ten people waving flags and singing a bit. Football here simply doesn’t compare. The atmosphere at Ajax is magical."
