It has been restless at FC Utrecht for a long time, which started the season very strongly, but then saw the draw. Even before the winter break, the call for a new trainer arose among some of the supporters, but the club management decided not to intervene halfway through the season and to continue with Hake. It was decided, however, to put forward talks about a possible contract extension.
In recent weeks, Hake’s credit among the fanatical supporters has further eroded through a series of six duels with only one victory. The game-encouraging home defeat against PSV, when FC Utrecht was badly hit by a large number of absentees, was followed by another slip-up against FC Groningen last Sunday. The guests took advantage of a slip by goalkeeper Fabian de Keijzer, who resulted in a penalty, and weak defense of FC Utrecht, and eventually won 3-1. After that match, some of the supporters expressed their dissatisfaction with lyrics such as ‘Hake rotten’.
European football
Hake has been the head coach of FC Utrecht since he was transferred from Jong FC Utrecht to the main force after the sudden departure of John van den Brom to RC Genk in November 2020. He was initially appointed on an interim basis until the winter break. Although the results were initially difficult, Hake was allowed to continue after an evaluation moment during the Christmas holidays, after which he had a strong second half of the season, in which FC Utrecht narrowly missed European football by losing the final of the play-offs to Feyenoord.
Initially, Hake was able to continue the good performance this season, but from the autumn it will be much more difficult. FC Utrecht is still seventh and that place entitles them to participate in the play-offs for European football. Number eight FC Groningen has come to four points due to last Sunday’s victory, but the gap with non-play-off place nine, where SC Cambuur is on, is still nine points.