Phillip Cocu has returned to Vitesse after an absence of two weeks, the club has announced via the official channels. The 52-year-old head coach suffered from acute appendicitis and a complicated recovery from it, but has been back with the Arnhem team since Thursday. Coming Saturday, Cocu will make his comeback as Vitesse’s final responsible during the home game with Excelsior Rotterdam.
Cocu was operated on his appendix two weeks ago and was allowed to go home not much later. A day later, due to complications, he was admitted to hospital again for treatment and observation. On Sunday, Cocu was allowed to visit the home front again, after which he fully recovered in the following days. On Thursday, the coach was back on the training field at Papendal for the first time.
Without Cocu, Vitesse did excellent business in the past two games. Go Ahead Eagles (2-0) and arch-rival NEC Nijmegen (1-4) were tied to the victory cart. Assistant coach Chris van der Weerden did the honors in those duels. On Saturday he will be Cocu’s assistant again. Vitesse would like to continue the winning streak, as the Arnhemmers are still in a disappointing thirteenth place in the Eredivisie.
Vitesse is still not sure of enforcement, but the gap with number sixteen FC Emmen is now five points. If things still go completely wrong for Cocu’s team, the play-offs against relegation can still offer a way out. After the match against Excelsior, a game with Fortuna Sittard awaits. Then two home games against relegation candidates FC Groningen and SC Cambuur are scheduled, after which Vitesse ends the season on May 28 with a game at leader Feyenoord. The Rotterdammers are probably already champions by then.
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