Maccabi Tel Aviv FC would like to announce the appointment of Patrick Van Leeuwen (46) as Performance Director. His main role at Maccabi will be to run the Youth Academy and continue its’ development in all aspects but he will also work closely with the Sports Director Jordi Cruyff to assist with managing the performance of the departments that support the first team such as scouting, sports science and medical.
The Dutchman, spent seven years as Shaktar Donetsk Head of Youth Department before being appointed in March 2013 as Sports Director at Kairat Almaty of Kazakhstan. After retiring in 1996 from a playing a career at Sparta Rotterdam and Helmond, Van Leeuwen began working at Feyenoord’s Youth Department as a coach of the Academy teams for 10 years during which he was also the Head Coach of the Feyenoord China projects as well as Head of Youth Scouting for the Feyenoord Academy.
Under Van Leeuwen’s guidance, Almaty finished in 3rd place twice, qualified to the Europa League once, finished in the runners-up spot last season and won the Kazakhstan Cup in the last two years.
Maccabi’s CEO Martin Bain told the club’s official website: “After careful planning and an extensive search to find a suitable candidate we are delighted to welcome Patrick Van Leeuwen to the club. The investment in our youth department is substantial and we are keen to make further progress in terms of the development of young players. The introduction of Patrick as a Performance Director where he will manage many aspects of the growth and transition of players from youth to first team and then further their development within the club is essential and Patrick skills and attributes having worked in clubs in Europe will bring a great deal of experience to the club”.
