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Mühren and Thijssen Back at Town - Ipswich Town News

Town's Dutch legends Arnold Mühren and Frans Thijssen will be back at Portman Road for the Blues’ home game against Bristol City on September 26th.

The 1981 UEFA Cup-winning duo will be returning to Suffolk for a feature for a special issue of the famous Dutch football magazine Voetbal International focusing on English football.

Editor-in-chief Tom van Hulsen, a Town supporter, told TWTD that the pair played an important role in establishing Dutch footballers in English football.

"Arnold Mühren and Frans Thijssen were only the fourth and fifth Dutch players who left Holland to play for an English club,” he said. "They paved the way in our country for many others.

"Thanks to them, Dutch football and Dutch footballers became well known in England because of their technical skills.

"As far as I know, they changed the football of Ipswich as well. Mick Mills told me last year that before their arrival Ipswich played kick and rush.

"Arnold and Frans asked the ball in midfield, never lost the ball and collaborated well with the forwards. With full support of Bobby Robson, of course.”

Thijssen, 63, who was interim head coach of Australian side the Brisbane Roar until June, was back at Town last summer to promote the return to adidas, the Blues’ kit manufacturer during their time at the club, but it’s some years since Mühren, 64, last returned to Portman Road.

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