Nov 11, 2023 at 11:49 PM Update: 3 hours ago
Phillip Cocu is no longer trainer of Vitesse. Cocu decided to immediately stop as coach of the Arnhem team on Saturday evening, shortly after the 1-3 defeat against SC Heerenveen.
The 53-year-old Cocu has been Vitesse’s trainer since September 2022. He led the club, where he was active as a player for years, to tenth place last season. This season things are going much worse for Vitesse, which is bottom in the Eredivisie.
On Saturday evening against Heerenveen, the Arnhem club took a 1-0 lead, but then the home club gave it away. Vitesse has been waiting for a win for six weeks and seems to be fighting against relegation this season.
The 2017 KNVB Cup winner has been playing at the highest level since 1989.
During the match against Heerenveen, some of the Vitesse fans demanded Cocu’s departure. White handkerchiefs were waved and banners with ‘Aju Cocu’ and ‘Cocu out’ were seen.
Some of the Vitesse supporters demanded the trainer’s departure. Photo: ANP
‘Someone with new energy’
Shortly after the final whistle, Cocu announced internally that he was resigning. “He told me that it was better that someone else would stand in front of the group,” said technical director Benjamin Schmedes at a specially arranged press conference in the GelreDome Stadium. “Someone with new energy. I accepted that.”
Meanwhile, it was restless around the stadium. Angry fans also gathered outside the stadium’s main entrance after the match. They were stopped there by security guards.
Captain Van Ginkel and Schmedes talked to the supporters. Both Van Ginkel and Schmedes then went to the press conference to announce that Cocu is leaving.
It is not yet known who will succeed Cocu. Vitesse’s next match is not until November 25, against Ajax.
For Cocu, his period at Vitesse will go down as a disappointment. As a trainer, he won three national titles with PSV and subsequently worked as a trainer at Fenerbahçe and Derby County.
Cocu encountered a difficult situation at Vitesse. A possible American takeover has still not been approved. Vitesse therefore has not only sporting but also financial concerns.
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Beeld: Getty Images
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2023-11-11 22:49:51
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