Coaching talent Reedijk is convincing
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SK Beveren is back in the Jupiler Pro League after five years. Since Sunday afternoon, the East Flemings have been promoted thanks to a historic performance in the Challenger Pro League. Coach Marink Reedijk’s team has been unbeaten since the start of the season and scored 66 out of 72 possible points – a record after 24 games. A 21-point lead over the playoff places is enough to celebrate at the end of February. A development that FC Augsburg is also likely to follow.
Like Crystal Palace, the Fuggerstadt-based company has the same investor, the American David Blitzer and his Global Football Holdings. But Beveren didn’t spend a lot of money because of this – quite the opposite. “A large part of the credit goes to sporting director Bob Peeters, who has put together a balanced team that is based primarily on experience,” explains Bart Tamsyn, Area Manager Belgium at Transfermarkt. “For example, there is the 37-year-old Christian Brüls as the top assist provider, the 33-year-old Lennart Mertens as the top goalscorer, the 33-year-old Bruno Godeau as the defense chief and captain Laurent Jans, also 33.” All came free of charge.
In addition to the successful transfer policy, it is above all the courageous football of the 34-year-old Dutch coach that led to success in his second year. “Marink Reedijk has managed to build a strong defense, coupled with intelligent attacks and goal-oriented play. It is therefore no surprise that Beveren has both the best attack and the best defense in the Belgian second division,” continued Tamsyn. Reedijk relies on high pressing, intense football and dominance. “A little bit of courage, a little bit of arrogance,” was how Reedijk summed it up in an interview with “NOS” together. “But effectively, not playing football for the sake of playing football.”
Talented trainer Reedijk forms SK Beveren into promotion favorites
Reedijk brought with him a refreshing and distinctive, attractive style of football. As a teenager he coached youth teams at the Dutch association, later at Ajax Amsterdam and West Bromwich Albion. This was followed by positions as an assistant at KSV Roeselare and Vitesse Arnheim, there under Thomas Letsch and Phillip Cocu. In the summer of 2023 he took over the coaching position at RSCA Futures, Anderlecht’s reserve, before moving to Beveren a year later. After 59 games there is an average points score of 2.1.
“The club has a loyal fan base and is very rich in tradition. A club that lives from the enthusiasm of bygone times, the glorious times in Europe,” explained Reedijk. At the end of the 70s and beginning of the 80s, Beveren celebrated two championships with greats such as Jean-Marie Pfaff, Wim Hofkens, Jean Janssens and the Germans Heinz Schönberger and Erwin Albert and competed in the European Cup with top clubs such as Inter Milan and FC Barcelona. After turbulent decades full of name changes, disputes over registrations and licenses, mergers and relegations, the traditional club was hardly recognizable.
“The connection with the fans was lost. At the beginning it was difficult, there were a lot of old grudges. The fans were no longer proud of the club due to the decline and there was too much ambiguity,” reflected Reedijk. The Dutchman was able to convince not only those responsible around sports director Peeters, who was once a professional at Vitesse, but also the supporters. The celebration after the 4-1 win at Patro Eisden Maasmechelen on Sunday was boundless.
The SK Beveren professionals are celebrating their promotion with their fans
“Stay undefeated” is Reedijk’s simple recipe for success for early promotion. “An unprecedented achievement,” he concluded. “The competition is tough, it’s not an easy league.” His team should not let up in the final spurt of the season. “My focus is now immediately on the next goal: becoming champion,” said Reedijk. He wants to give a lot back to the fans. “Sunday was really nice when you hear the stories of people who had lost their pride in the club and now say with tears in their eyes that they see a team again that wants to fight for the club. That’s what you’re doing all this for.”
SK Beveren is already looking to the future
Those responsible are already looking ahead to the coming season. “Peeters still has a lot to do. No fewer than 16 players have expiring contracts. In addition, Beveren may no longer be able to play as dominantly and as high as they currently do in the Jupiler Pro League. How will the club deal with this? There is also a lack of speed in defense,” Belgium expert Tamsyn looks ahead. “However, Peeters wants to keep 80 to 85 percent of the squad together and make only a few changes when opportunities arise.”
A painful exit could threaten between the posts. Goalkeeper Beau Reus (24) has played his way into the spotlight, keeping ten clean sheets. His market value increased from 700,000 to 1.2 million euros this season, making him the most valuable player in Beveren and the fourth most valuable professional in the Challenger Pro League. The fans’ hopes are that sports director Peeters will continue to show good luck in squad planning.
