Phillip Cocu resigned as Vitesse’s coach. Coach Benjamin Schmedes announced this at a press conference in Arnhem after the competitive match against Heerenveen. Vitesse lost their home match 1:3 and are in last place in the Premier League.
During the match, fans in the stands expressed their dissatisfaction with white handkerchiefs and banners demanding Cocu’s dismissal. The coach contacted Schmedes after the match and said that he was leaving the team “for the interests of the club”.
“If you lose so often and are at the bottom of the table, then maybe something needs to change,” admitted captain Marco van Ginkel, who had to be sent off with a red card against Heerenveen. “Of course, my relationship with the coach has been going on for several years, not just this year, and it has always been good. So this is a coup.”
Schmedes confirmed that the head coach’s departure had been on the agenda for some time. “We have always had very open discussions and over the last few weeks we have both felt that a change was needed. However, it was Cocu himself who made the decision to resign. As a true ‘gentleman’, in the best interests of the club. But it has to happen.” To be honest, this wasn’t a big surprise.
The manager could not yet say what consequences this would have for Cocu’s assistants Chris van der Weerden and Theo Janssen, as well as other staff. “We have a list for every position on the field and also for the head coaches. “We will also talk to people within the club first.”
Fans want resignation
Shortly after the defeat against Heerenveen, fans went to the main entrance of the Gelredome to demand compensation from the Arnhem club’s management. The crowd was stopped at the door by police and officials.
A delegation, including Vitesse’s future owner Coley Parry, management figures and Vitesse veterans Marco van Ginkel, Eloy Room and Davy Pröpper, then got into arguments with angry fans.
“There were many fans who wanted answers from the club and wanted him to be kicked out. Finally, Benjamin and I turned to the fans,” Van Ginkel said at the press conference.
We have to do this together, especially the players. And that’s not good enough. So this needs to change quickly.”
Successful at PSV
Cocu started coaching at Vitesse in September 2022, where he played more than 150 matches in the 1990s. He also played more than a hundred matches for the Dutch national team.
As a coach, he celebrated three championships with PSV between 2013 and 2018. He also coached Fenerbahce and English Derby County, but could not repeat his success in Eindhoven.
Source: NOS
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