By Alexander Pracht
After more than four months without a permanent head coach, the Armenian national team appointed Dutch manager John van ‘t Schip to lead their squad, the country’s Football Federation announced today.
John van ‘t Schip, 61, enjoyed a distinguished playing career, primarily with Dutch powerhouse Ajax and later with Genoa in Italy. A skilled wing-half, he earned 40 caps for the Netherlands national team and was part of the Dutch squad that claimed their only international trophy in history at Euro 88, though his involvement in the tournament was limited to one appearance.
His coaching journey has been marked by strong ties to Ajax, where he spent significant time working with the youth academy and serving as an assistant coach for the first team. His managerial experience includes stints at Dutch clubs PEC Zwolle and FC Twente, as well as with Melbourne City in Australia and Guadalajara in Mexico.
Most recently, van ‘t Schip had a challenging tenure at Ajax, taking over the struggling giants in late 2023. While the fifth-place finish marked Ajax’s worst league position since 1999, he did inherit a team in crisis hovering near the relegation zone.
Prior to Ajax, van ‘t Schip led the Greek national team but failed to secure qualification for Euro 2020 (played in 2021). Interestingly, Greece faced Armenia in that campaign, losing at home but later winning in Yerevan. His appointment could prove interesting for Armenia, as his attacking philosophy aligns well with the team’s offensive capabilities. The challenge, however, will be addressing Armenia’s persistent defensive frailties.
The Dutch manager is replacing Ukrainian Oleksandr Petrakov, sacked from the national team in October following poor performances and conflicts with players, as well as questionable squad selection decisions.
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