Zeljko Petrovic was actually the first candidate at Willem II to succeed Fred Grim, who was fired last week. The trainer recently fired as national coach of Iraq was even in the picture with the Tilburgers until Monday morning, who eventually chose Kevin Hofland as the new head coach. The currently clubless Petrovic is working with a club from Qatar, he reports in the Kick-Offpodcast from The Telegraph†
“It’s the first time I talk about things like this,” Petrovic indicates the rumors about the return to Willem II, which ultimately never materialized. “I have often spoken to Dutch clubs and then someone else comes, I don’t think that is correct either. I say this because Willem II did speak with Hofland and told him that they were busy with me. Normally I don’t do this because I don’t think that’s correct. We all know each other in the Netherlands and Willem II was super correct. They called me and waited a long time. I tried everything, but it didn’t work. And then they try it with Kevin Hofland. But it is sad that Willem II almost plays in the First Division,” Petrovic refers to the relegation concerns of the Tricolores†
Kevin Hofland succeeds Fred Grim as head coach Willem II
In the end Willem II chose Kevin Hofland as the new head coach in Tilburg.
Petrovic emphasizes that the failure of a renewed collaboration with Willem II has nothing to do with the current sixteenth place in the Eredivisie. “No, no, no, no. I said that right away. They said: ‘We would like you to help us and know that it is terribly difficult’. Then I do not look at the playing schedule. And Mike (Verweij, ed. .), I think you have known me for a long time, for almost thirty years. I make an easy schedule from a difficult schedule. And I take a lot of points, you saw that last year,” Petrovic refers to his employment at Willem II, when he managed to keep the club in the Eredivisie as interim coach.
The former coach of the Tilburgers was therefore seriously in the picture with the board of the low flyer. “They already called on day one and waited for me until this morning (Monday, ed.). Unfortunately, it didn’t work out,” sighs Petrovic, who had already concluded a verbal agreement with an unnamed club from Qatar. “I tried to talk to the sheik, to help Willem II. But maybe I have to go to London in two weeks, maybe I have to talk about the selection in Qatar in three weeks. And I also think: if you Willem II starts, you should not go somewhere along the way. The club and the players do not deserve that and that does not suit me either,” said the coach.