Mark-Jan Fledderus new Eredivisie technical manager

Fledderus is the first technical manager to be employed by the Eredivisie CV. The former technical director of Heracles Almelo and FC Groningen will focus on policy aspects within the Eredivisie, such as the Eredivisie Change Agenda, sporting agreements reached in the business plan, the sporting data project and chairing consultations with the clubs through the technical platform.

In addition, Fledderus will focus in the long term on the further development of other sporting-technical disciplines in Dutch professional football, such as league set-up, matchday calendar, playing surface, youth training, U21 teams, transfer windows and the Dutch football pyramid. The newly appointed technical manager will also promote cooperation with technical managers of the Eredivisie clubs and contacts in national and international football organisations such as the KNVB, UEFA, FIFA, European Leagues, etc.

Jan de Jong, CEO Eredivisie CV: "The arrival of Mark-Jan is the next step in the further professionalisation of the Eredivisie CV. We are not just about commercial ambitions, but also about sporting objectives. After all, we want to remain the sixth league in Europe. Mark-Jan knows what it's like to play football in the Eredivisie and what it is to be a technical director at a club in the Eredivisie. And in the latter role, he has always been actively committed to the collective. All that is a real plus and he is Made in the Eredivisie."

"Not everything he's touched in his career has turned to gold, true, but for whom has it? On top of that, he is quite self-critical and has a huge learning ability. Mark-Jan knows what is going on in the Eredivisie, what the issues are and the challenges and has a good overview of the international competitive field. You need that experience in this new role. Mark-Jan is a smart guy, brimming with new ideas. He has huge drive and is seeking broad further development. He has that opportunity now and he will no doubt seize it. I am convinced of that. After an extensive procedure together with a number of clubs, he therefore emerged as the most suitable candidate," Jan de Jong said.

Mark-Jan Fledderus, technical manager: "I'm really excited to embark on this new challenge. The Eredivisie is a wonderful league in which I have had the privilege of being both a player and a technical director at various clubs. It is a tremendous honor for me to now contribute to its sporting and technical development from this role. We will do everything we can to provide the clubs, who make the Eredivisie, with the best sporting and technical support as possible."

Mark-Jan Fledderus played 15 seasons of professional football. After making his Eredivisie debut on 29 May 2003 for sc Heerenveen, the new technical manager went on to play for Telstar, FC Groningen, Heracles Almelo and Roda JC before returning to Heracles Almelo. The midfielder played 310 Eredivisie games, in which he scored 32 goals and provided 29 assists.

After his professional career, Fledderus assisted the management of Heracles Almelo, where he was promoted to technical director of the Almelo club in March 2018. A year later, the former footballer made the switch to FC Groningen, the club where he played for four years, reaching European football twice. Here Fledderus was ultimately responsible for the technical side for four years before the club and technical director parted ways in February this year.