Almere City appoint Jeroen Rijsdijk as Hedwiges Maduro’s successor | OneFootball

Almere City have appointed Jeroen Rijsdijk as their new head coach. He succeeds the recently departed Hedwiges Maduro with the aim of saving the bottom club from relegation.

Rijsdijk was sacked by Sparta Rotterdam earlier this season, yet has been offered a second chance in the Eredivisie with a six-month contract with De Zwarte Schapen.

The move also arrives as a second chance at Almere. In January 2020, Rijsdijk became assistant coach under Ole Tobiasen and from March 2021, he temporarily stepped in as interim. In 2021, the 49-year-old Rotterdam native left Almere behind to become head of youth development at Sparta, before taking the senior reins last summer.

The new boss spoke of the challenge ahead: “I am determined to get the most out of the coming months with Almere City FC, says Rijsdijk via the club channels. This challenge requires immediate action, cooperation and a full-fledged fight for survival in the Eredivisie. Together, with the management, staff, players, employees and supporters, I will give everything to achieve this goal.”

GBeNeFN | Max Bradfield