Gullit accepts Feyenoord offer
Monday, January 5, 2004
Article summary
Feyenoord have announced that Ruud Gullit will take over as coach from 1 July when Bert van Marwijk leaves.
Article body
Feyenoord have announced that the former Dutch international Ruud Gullit will take over as coach from 1 July.
Wotte role
The Eredivisie club also appointed Willem II coach Mark Wotte as technical manager. The 43-year-old Wotte will start his new assignment immediately after signing a contract until 2006. Gullit, who captained the Netherlands to the UEFA European Championship in 1988, still needs to get official approval from the Royal Netherlands Football Association (KNVB) to end his contract as the coach of the national Under-19 squad.
'Something special'
However, the former Newcastle United FC and Chelsea FC manager does not think the KNVB will stand in his way. "I always wanted to work as coach of Feyenoord," said the 41-year-old Gullit, who won his first title as a player with the team in 1984. "The club still means something special to me. The KNVB knows that as well, so I don't expect that they will deprive me of that chance."
Coach leaving
Gullit is expected to assist national coach Dick Advocaat during UEFA EURO 2004™ in Portugal this year before he takes over at Feyenoord. The Rotterdam club released technical director Rob Baan last week and also announced that coach Bert van Marwijk would leave after this season. Feyenoord are fourth in the Dutch top flight, nine points behind leaders AFC Ajax.
