While Maurice Steijn entered the field of training complex De Toekomst for the first time as the new head coach of Ajax on Friday afternoon, his previous employer Sparta Rotterdam is still busy looking for a successor. Several names have been reviewed in recent weeks, but the number six of the past season in the Eredivisie always received zero on the request. That finally seems to be changing: Jeroen Rijsdijk is up pole position to become the new coach at Het Kasteel.
That reports Rijnmond at least. Rijsdijk was one of Steijn’s assistants last season and is now the most important candidate to succeed the successful trainer. Steijn joined Sparta last year and first managed to keep the team from Rotterdam in the Eredivisie, before guiding them to a very good sixth place last season. Sparta also qualified for the final of the play-offs for European football, but it had to recognize its superior in FC Twente.
The return in Enschede was the last game for Steijn as head coach of Sparta. A few hours after the final whistle in the Grolsch Veste, the first reports came out about Ajax’s interest. That one was serious. What is called. Steijn was presented a few days later in the Johan Cruijff ArenA. At Het Kasteel it was long expected that Steijn would sign a new contract, but instead the search for a successor had to start a few weeks ago. Gregg Berhalter, Danny Blind, Ron Jans and Fred Rutten were all polled, but all also declined the honor of becoming head coach.
Rijsdijk likes the job. “This weekend, technical director Gerard Nijkamp will have another conversation with Rijsdijk. The technical director informed Rijnmond earlier this week that there would be a very good chance that Rijsdijk would be in front of the group on Monday to lead the first training session. Rijsdijk has been with Sparta for a few years now. He was appointed head of youth academy at the club from Rotterdam in November 2021. Six months later he started working as an assistant coach under Steijn.
2023-07-01 08:34:43
#Jeroen #Rijsdijk #coach #Sparta #Rotterdam
