LEVELLING UP – Wolfsburg’s Dutch star Janou Levels speaks

Wolfsburg and Netherlands left back Janou Levels speaks exclusively to Roos Schelen for The New Women’s Sport Magazine on playing in Germany, waiting for a national team call-up, scoring a beautiful goal against her former club, her one and only footballing inspiration, and… jigsaw puzzles.

Speaking to Janou Levels, you get the sense that you’re dealing with a mentality monster. She had been called up to the national team a few times in 2022 by then-coach Mark Parsons and made her debut in February of that year. She missed out on that summer’s Euros squad.

While she was performing for her club at left back week in, week out, a call-up to the national team camp never followed under Andries Jonker. Instead, silence.

Levels was disappointed, of course, but deliberately chose to focus on herself and on the things she could influence.

“Of course, in the beginning, that’s disappointing. You want to also be there. But then very quickly I was like, you know, I can’t influence any choices of a coach. I was in Leverkusen when I made that choice and I just wanted to have fun playing.

“I wanted to become better. And then in my opinion, you do everything you can. I just wanted to show myself and show that I am improving and that I become better”.

When asked if she understood the decision to not call her up, it really becomes clear that Levels is not one to dwell on decisions made by others.

“I mean, I didn’t really have a conversation with the coach, so that’s difficult to answer. But, as I said, I tried to not think about that too much because that distracts you from the things you can do. And at that moment I just wanted to focus on Leverkusen”.

Meanwhile, Levels moved from Bayer Leverkusen to VfL Wolfsburg and Andries Jonker was replaced by Arjan Veurink. The national team called again in October and Levels made her way to Zeist (KNVB headquarters) for the first time in more than three years. Levels thinks her move to Wolfsburg has been the biggest factor in her being called up for international duty again.

“Obviously going to Wolfsburg is something I think is also a reason because they can see you performing on the highest level in Champions League, for example. I think that’s always a factor, I guess, because they want to see how you perform there, if you’re able to continue playing the way you could in the league or before.”

After her first camp back with the national team in October, Levels was called up again for the November camp but had to stay home in Wolfsburg due to injury. And again, her iron mindset shows through when she speaks about being injured back then.

Yeah, it was difficult because I was in the flow and I was playing and playing well. So then that’s always a bit difficult. But, you know, when it was clear for me what I could do to become fit again, you just change your mindset and you’re just very motivated and focused to come back as fast as possible. So I think there’s just a few days where you’re a little disappointed, but then it goes really quick because you just want to work hard, you want to come back.

Levels played for Dutch club PSV Eindhoven for five years before making the step abroad, to Bayer Leverkusen. Levels listened to her gut when she made the decision to move to Germany.

“Directly I had a good feeling. I mean, you start with conversations and I just felt really, really good with that. I mean, I make my decisions also based on my feeling. And I don’t know, I felt good. So I was like, why not? And I was also, of course, obviously not too far away from home, so maybe that was also a part of it.”

She admits it took time to learn the language and adapt to the culture. It was one of the reasons she wanted to stay in Germany when she was looking for the next step in her career, which took her to European giants Wolfsburg.

“I wouldn’t say it was a difficult choice. Of course it’s difficult because you had a good time somewhere you were at for two years. But on the other hand, I knew it was a next step and I was able to play Champions League. And, you know, also a little bit with the national team in my mind. I was like, I feel like this is a really good next step.

“Also to stay in Germany was something I had in mind because as I said before, it takes time to get used to a new culture, a new language. And after two years, I could speak the language and I felt good in the country. So for me to make it a little bit easier to make the next step, I wanted to stay in Germany. And then Wolfsburg was, of course, the perfect club.”

The move to Wolfsburg also meant Levels gets to play in the UEFA Women’s Champions League (UWCL). She did play in the competition before with PSV, but the club only enjoyed short stints, going out against Barcelona in 2020-2021 and losing to Arsenal in the qualifying stages in 2021-2022. And she very much enjoys playing in the UWCL.

“Yeah, it’s really amazing. It’s completely different. Of course, you play on the highest level, competing with one of the best clubs in Europe and yeah, that’s just amazing.

“You know, every time I step on the pitch, it’s so nice and I try to enjoy every minute. So it’s mostly very, very positive and very enjoyable.”

When she was younger, Levels also played in the eight position, in midfield, but moved to left fullback aged 14 and kept playing there. She describes herself as a modern fullback, solid in defence, but contributing in attack too.

And what a contribution she made last week, when scoring a beautiful goal against her former club Leverkusen. Speaking to her the next day, she was still beaming.

“I mean, I could feel it already when I touched the ball that it was going to go in. I was just really happy also for us to lead by a goal to nil already pretty fast into the match and that’s always a nice feeling.”

At one point in the interview, Levels mentions she was on her own a lot more when she was at Leverkusen, as she was now living abroad for the first time in her career. It was one of the reasons fellow Dutchwoman Jill Roord opted to move back to the Netherlands after a long stint abroad, away from friends and family.

Interestingly, when prompted about loneliness in footballers, Levels says she sometimes needs the time alone to reflect and rest up.

“Sometimes it is hard. Of course, you have such a crazy schedule, right? Like a match and then two, three days later again a match. So there’s not a lot of time to think. But then when you have a day off and when you’re alone in your apartment.

“Sometimes it’s a little lonely or you’re by yourself. But I don’t mind being alone. Sometimes I also need that to just relax a little bit and to calm down and to relax your body as well. Yeah, but I can imagine it’s different for everyone.”

To take her mind off football, Levels likes to undertake activities with her teammates, but also do things by herself.

“Sometimes I do puzzles and I put on some music and I’m just doing that for an hour or two. Time flies by.

“So that’s also nice to just not be on your phone all the time or watch series and just do something for yourself. I also like playing games with teammates or colouring sometimes, you know, you have these adult colouring books now. That’s also relaxing for me.”

Asked about her inspirations in football, Levels is not too quick to pick one. The reason might not be too surprising: she focuses on what she can improve in herself and her own play, rather than focus on others.

Eventually, she mentions Lucy Bronze. Not just for her football, but, maybe unsurprisingly, for her mentality too.

“I am also like that”, Levels says.

Wolfsburg play OL Lyonnes in the quarter-finals of the UWCL, starting with a match at home on 24th March, followed by a trip to the Groupama Stadium on 2nd April.