Heracles Almelo presented Nico-Jan Hoogma as technical director on Friday. The former defender is the successor of the recently departed Tim Gilissen at the club that has been relegated to the Kitchen Champion Division.
Hoogma played as a player for Heracles between 2004 and 2006 and was general manager there from 2007 to March 2018. He exchanged that position for a job as director of top football at the KNVB, where his contract now expired.
“With the arrival of Nico-Jan, our management is complete again,” says board member Marnix Smit of Heracles. “Nico-Jan is a club man who knows the club well and as board we are confident that the renewed cooperation will lead to sporting success and promotion to the Eredivisie.”
The 53-year-old Hoogma, whose son Justin is the captain of Heracles, will work in Almelo with general manager Rob Toussaint. His predecessor Gilissen resigned following the relegation of Heracles, as did chairman Hans Bredewoud.
Heracles surprisingly ended up in the play-offs on the last Eredivisie match day, in which Excelsior lost no chance over two matches. Trainer Frank Wormuth did not attend both matches; he was fired after the Almeloans finished sixteenth.
Carlos Vicens will be the trainer of Heracles from next summer. Led by the Spaniard, who was assistant to Josep Guardiola at Manchester City, the club hopes for a quick return to the Eredivisie.
Heracles Almelo experienced a dramatic season finale.
Heracles Almelo experienced a dramatic season finale. Photo: AP