ADO Den Haag is working to complete the appointment of Maurice Steijn as head coach as quickly as possible, with the club aiming to have him on the bench for Saturday’s home Eredivisie match against Sparta Rotterdam, De Telegraaf reported. The 52-year-old Hagenaar is the club’s clear first choice to replace Robin Peter, who was dismissed on Monday after the club collected six points from its first eleven matches of the season.

The timing would make Steijn’s debut an unusual one: he spent last season on Sparta’s bench, meaning his first match back in charge of ADO would come against his former club at the Cars Jeans Stadion in The Hague.

Six Points From Eleven Matches Prompt the Change

The club confirmed Peter’s departure in an official statement, citing “disappointing sporting results” as the reason for ending the cooperation. ADO sits 17th in the Eredivisie table, and with survival as the primary objective, the club said a change in the technical leadership was necessary at this point.

Technical director Mark Wotte stressed that the decision did not diminish the club’s appreciation for Peter, who led ADO to the Keuken Kampioen Divisie title last season and promotion back to the top flight. “With the championship and promotion to the Eredivisie, he delivered a fantastic performance together with his staff and the squad,” Wotte said in the club’s statement. “A special achievement that will forever be part of our club’s history.”

Steven Gunn added that six points from eleven matches was simply not enough for a club whose stated goal is to stay up. “That does nothing to diminish our appreciation for Robin,” Gunn said.

Until a new head coach is installed, Levi Schwiebbe is handling the first team on an interim basis.

Steijn’s Long History With the Club From The Hague

Steijn is no stranger to ADO Den Haag. He was a youth player, first-team player, youth coach, assistant coach and head coach at the club from the Hofstad, and he stood at the helm from 2011 to 2014. After leaving ADO, he coached NAC Breda, VVV-Venlo, Al Wahda, Sparta Rotterdam and Ajax. Since departing Sparta last summer, he has been without a club.

Hans Kraay Jr. told ESPN he would put Steijn in front of the squad immediately and give him a two-year contract. At Sparta, when the club was “with water at its lips,” Kraay said, Steijn kept them in the Eredivisie “in all calmness and with realistic football.” He urged Steijn to repeat that feat “around the corner from his own house.” Kraay added that ADO needs a different type of coach than Peter: someone who can give the players confidence, and he suggested Steijn should demand real reinforcements in the winter window.

Criticism of Peter’s Dismissal on ESPN

The decision to fire Peter drew sharp criticism on ESPN’s Voetbalpraat program. Kenneth Perez called Peter a “victim of his own success,” noting the oddity of a coach being promoted with ADO and then dismissed once the club reached the Eredivisie. Perez questioned whether the 39-year-old will easily find another job, comparing his situation to Sjors Ultee, who moved from Fortuna Sittard to TOP Oss.

Former NOS commentator Arno Vermeulen pointed to the club’s ownership structure, saying ADO has an Eredivisie budget and external financiers with shares who are “deadly afraid” when they look at the table. “There’s an American billionaire in charge who simply looks at the standings,” Vermeulen said. “Seventeenth? De Volkskrant’s Willem Vissers called the dismissal “completely idiotic,” noting that research shows coaching changes rarely make a difference.”

Steijn Tests Return Against Sparta

The next confirmed checkpoint is Saturday’s home match against Sparta Rotterdam, where ADO hopes Steijn will already be in the dugout. If the appointment is completed in time, the match will double as a reunion and a test: Steijn against the club he guided until last summer, with ADO fighting to climb out of 17th place in the Eredivisie.

Frequently Asked Questions

When could Maurice Steijn make his ADO Den Haag debut? De Telegraaf reported that the club aims to have Steijn on the bench for Saturday’s home match against Sparta Rotterdam.

Why was Robin Peter dismissed? ADO’s official statement cites six points from eleven Eredivisie matches and the club’s primary objective of avoiding relegation.

Has Steijn coached ADO Den Haag before? Yes. He was head coach from 2011 to 2014, and also played and worked in the club’s youth system earlier in his career.

Who is coaching ADO in the meantime? Levi Schwiebbe is leading the first team on an interim basis until a new head coach is appointed.