Luc Stolker will strengthen the FC Twente/Heracles Academy from next season. The Enschede native will start working in a newly created position as Connection Coach. In this role, Stolker is responsible for individually coaching Academy players who are close to making the step to the first teams.
For Luc Stolker, this appointment means a return to the region where he grew up and worked for many years. Between 2012 and 2020, Stolker already worked at the youth academy of FC Twente and Heracles Almelo. He then switched to the youth academy of AFC Ajax. The Enschede native is looking forward to returning to work in Hengelo after four seasons at AFC Ajax: “Over the past period I have had many constructive conversations with people from the Academy and both clubs. The outcome of these conversations gives me a lot of motivation and energy to get back to work here,” Stolker said on the website. FC Twente/Heracles Academy.
FACE FROM THE REGION
Maarten van Wesenbeeck, Academy Manager, and Bas van Baar, Head of Football Development, are happy with the appointment of Luc Stolker. Van Wesenbeeck: “In the person of Luc, we have once again managed to attract a face from the region to the FC Twente/Heracles Academy. He will be tasked with guiding players in the transition process to the first teams. The ultimate goal is of course that the selections of FC Twente and Heracles Almelo will consist of an even greater proportion of their own youth. Luc will play an important role in this.”
Bas van Baar: “Luc already knows this region and our Academy well. In addition, he has gained a lot of experience in developing youth players during his career. He has been working at the absolute top of Dutch youth football for several years and has built up excellent competencies during that time to fulfill this position.”
IMPROVE THE FLOW PROCESS
The FC Twente/Heracles Academy has created the position of Connection Coach to make the transition process even better for players who are close to a transfer to FC Twente and Heracles Almelo. Arnold Bruggink, technical director FC Twente, and Nico-Jan Hoogma, technical director Heracles Almelo: “The unique progression opportunity to two professional football organizations is a great opportunity for players from the Academy, which we want to make optimal use of. However, this unique option does require additional coordination between both clubs and the Academy. It is the collective wish to offer players customized solutions and a lot of individual attention in this process. Through this full-time position, we are jointly taking a big step towards achieving that ambition.”
ABOUT LUC STOLKER
33-year-old Luc Stolker was born and raised in Enschede. At the age of 21, Stolker started working for the youth academy of FC Twente for the first time. Between 2012 and 2020, he was alternately head coach at the Under 11, Under 13 and Under 14 for eight seasons. The Enschede native was also active as a technique trainer and provided video analysis at Jong FC Twente. In 2020, Stolker switched to the youth academy of AFC Ajax. In recent years, he has been in charge of the Under 13 and Under 14 teams as head coach. He was also involved as an assistant coach with the Under 16 teams of the Amsterdam club.
