After a year of relegation, FC Volendam can dream of a promotion to the Eredivisie. How did the club from Volendam recover so quickly after the collapse last year?
In 2022, the then selection of trainer Wim Jonk was welcomed by the villagers. The boat trip and the ride on the back and forth to the stadium formed a true Oranje Volksfeest. For two seasons, Volendam remained in the Eredivisie. Less than a year ago, the glorious relegation followed after a period of arguing and financial problems.
Resurrection
With a new management, trainer and a balanced group of players, Volendam is faster than anyone possibly bothered at the highest level. The resurrection is at least as striking as that of Ajax in the Eredivisie.
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The new technical director Patrick Busby made the broom through the selection and set the current group of players in a few months. The arrival of trainer Rick Kruys, from VVV-Venlo, appears to be a golden hold. “He is crucial. Rick keeps the group together and knows how to touch them in the right way,” said Busby.
Much less money
Yet the born Haarlemmer himself also supplied a piece of art. With a budget of two million euros (half of the season before), he won a number of targeted reinforcements, such as Mawouna Amevor, Alex Plat, Jamie Jacobs, Brandley Kuwas and Yannick Leliendal.
Despite the relegation from the first division, he managed to keep strong holders Xavier Mbuyamba and Bilal Ould-Chikh. But Busby prefers the credits of success to others. “I the king? No, Rick Kruys is the king. I enjoy at a distance. Rick and the boys did it.”