Sports · Football · 5 hrs ago
Willem II dismisses John Stegeman after poor start to Eredivisie season
Willem II has dismissed head coach John Stegeman after a poor start to the Dutch Eredivisie season.
The Tilburg club has earned just two points in its first nine matches and is bottom of the league.
Assistant coach Pascal Diender is also leaving, and the club says it sees too little prospect in continuing the partnership.
Stegeman took charge in summer 2025 and led Willem II to promotion through the play-offs in his first season.
His last match was a 3-2 defeat away to Sparta Rotterdam, after which Willem II was seven points behind 15th-place PEC Zwolle.
The result leaves the club facing a difficult fight to remain in the top division.
Willem II has not said who will take over, and its next match is at home against SC Cambuur on Saturday.
Willem II have dismissed head coach John Stegeman after taking two points from their first nine Eredivisie matches.
Assistant coach Pascal Diender is also leaving the club.
Willem II said there was insufficient prospect of continuing the collaboration.
The club are bottom of the league and seven points behind 15th-placed PEC Zwolle.
Stegeman had led Willem II to promotion through the play-offs in his first season in charge.
- Who
- Willem II have dismissed head coach John Stegeman. Assistant coach Pascal Diender is also leaving.
- What
- The club have ended their collaboration with both coaches.
- When
- 20 October 2026.
- Where
- Willem II, based in Tilburg, the Netherlands.
- Why
- Willem II had earned two points in their first nine league matches. The club said there was insufficient prospect of continuing the collaboration.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Stegeman took charge of Willem II.
Willem II won promotion to the Eredivisie through the play-offs, beating FC Volendam on penalties in the final.
Willem II lost 3-2 away to Sparta Rotterdam in Stegeman's final match in charge.
Willem II announced that Stegeman and assistant coach Pascal Diender were leaving.
- Points after nine matches
- 2
- League position
- Bottom of the Eredivisie
- Gap to 15th-placed PEC Zwolle
- 7 points
- Stegeman's appointment
- Summer 2025
- Next match
- Home against SC Cambuur on Saturday
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