New Hibs gaffer reveals how marathon talks won him over amid 'freedom' vow and 'you need young players' pledge
Dutchman pays tribute to David Gray for ‘intensity and cohesion’ he’s inherited
New Hibs boss Marink Reedijk wants fans to identify with his new-look team as he builds on the “intensity” created by predecessor David Gray – and ramps up the entertainment value for the Easter Road faithful. And the 35-year-old Dutchman has revealed how he was convinced that Hibs were the club for him during marathon six-hours-plus talks with chairman Ian Gordon.
Reedijk was confirmed as manager earlier on Thursday, just over a week on from head coach David Gray’s dismissal. His first job will be to take charge of a warm-weather training camp with players in La Manga, Spain, starting on Saturday.
Manager wants fans to ‘identify’ with his team
The former Ajax youth coach, who has a PhD in coaching science and a Belgian second-tier title triumph with SK Beveren to his name after putting together a record-breaking undefeated campaign last season, provided some insight into what fans should expect in his first interview with Hibs TV.
“I want to be giving the fans the feeling that they can identify themselves with the team, and for me, how I see it, is that you need to be doing everything, and you have to leave everything on the pitch by being intense and aggressive - but also proactive and brave,” said the Dutchman. “It's important to do things which you are capable of, and don't hesitate to bring them on the pitch, but also in decision-making, do some things which you think are right at that moment.
“They also need a little bit of freedom within a very clear team task in order to be themselves so that every individual can shine on the pitch within their individual qualities.”
Assessing the squad he’s inherited, Reedijk added: “The intensity is there, the intentions are there, and there is a certain cohesion. This is what's visible, and it's what the former manager did well at.
“It’s now understanding the players better, understanding the culture here, integrating the intensity and the togetherness, and making sure that we are brave.
“But at the same time, I realise I don't have a wand in my hand and can change it overnight. This will take time.
“But over time I want our team to be dominant, proactive, aggressive, and intense - but also at the same time have this expressive and creative side of the game in order to entertain the fans and identify themselves with the team and the club.”
‘If they’re good enough, they’re old enough’ - Hibs kids get positive message
Insisting he would put his faith in youngsters to step into the senior squad, Reedijk added: “This is also what I believe in: that you need the young players and you have to trust them. If they're good enough, they're old enough, and you need to make sure that everybody develops.
“That's what I stand for. That's why also SK Beveren came in later and gave me the opportunity to lead as a manager for the first time in an interesting period of the club, where we needed to bring an identity to the pitch, another identity different to what it was in years before.”
Revealing how he’d been convinced to sign on with Hibs after stepping away from frontline coaching following his efforts with Beveren, he said: “I always said that I would look into what kind of people are in the building, what kind of ideas we have, and whether they are aligned. For me, this is what I immediately found in my first conversations with the club.
“Then later on, when we met, I met with Ian Gordon and with the board. This was for a long period.
“I think we spoke six or seven hours with each other, and it was very aligned and very much the same ideas about how we want to progress on the pitch and off the pitch. I saw people who are willing to work together, had a very good heart for the club and are good people.
“That was, for me, important in my next step: that I work with good people.”
Asked what his message to the fans would be, Reedijk said: “That we have to do things together. We have to support each other through thick and thin, so we will keep on supporting, pushing and helping each other in order to come through this, and on the other side if we win, we will have some sunshine on Leith.”