At the same time as Fred Grim’s resignation, technical director Joris Mathijsen was put on hold at Willem II. The Supervisory Board of the Tilburg club took the decision this week to convert that into a permanent break, Mathijsen was officially fired on Wednesday.
‘There is a difference of opinion between the Supervisory Board and Mathijsen about the policy to be pursued. In view of the disappointing sporting performance and difference in vision on how to intervene and turn the tide, the Supervisory Board considers it necessary to say goodbye to Mathijsen’, the club writes in a short message on its own website.
With Mathijsen as technical director, European football was achieved under the leadership of trainer Adrie Koster. After that, however, things went a lot less well in Tilburg. Last season, with Zeljko Petrovic at the helm, it just managed to avoid relegation, this year there are relegation concerns again at the Tricolores.
In the first weekend of March, there was a crisis meeting at the Tilburg club. This followed a draw against sc Heerenveen and increasing concerns about the form of the team and the lack of points. The outcome was that trainer Fred Grim was said to be farewell, while Mathijsen was suspended. This was the first step towards a break-up, a few weeks later the definitive end of the collaboration is now a fact.
Six years
The former defender started a year after he retired as a footballer as a technical manager at Willem II. In 2017, he was subsequently appointed technical director. After six years, the collaboration between Willem II and Mathijsen has now come to an end. “We thank Joris for his efforts during this period,” the club reports.
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