January 3 – Belgian second-division club Beerschot have appointed former Liverpool star Dirk Kuyt as head coach.
The Dutchman succeeds Andras Wieland who departed the club to Austria’s LASK last week.
In a local newspaper interview, Wieland expressed his discontent with how the club operated. However, The Antwerp club acted quickly to find a replacement.
“Right from our initial conversation, we had a strong connection with Dirk. We were searching for a young and modern manager, someone with a burning desire for success. We are confident that Dirk Kuyt is the right person for the job and will stop at nothing to achieve success here at Beerschot,” said the club’s sporting director Gyorgy Csepregi.
A part of United World, a multiple club ownership group in the hands of Saudi Prince Abdullah bin Mosaad, Beerschot sit in second place in the second division. They were relegated from the top flight in 2021.
“I am a coach who loves attacking football with a high intensity,” said Kuyt. “In that respect, I think that the Beerschot club also suits me very well. Giving everything to win a match, that is who I am as a person. That was I was in the past as a football player, but that’s how I am now as a trainer.”
The former striker however has limited managerial experience, having spent four months with ADO Den Haag. As a player, he featured for Utrecht, Feyenoord, Liverpool and Fenerbahce. Kuyt will face Anderlecht Futures in his first match with Beerschot.
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