Ron Jans ends career as Rinus Michels Manager of the Month
Ron Jans has been named Rinus Michels Manager of the Month for the first — and immediately final — time in his career. The FC Utrecht head coach receives the award for his performances in May.
Three victories
Ron Jans was the only coach to remain unbeaten with his side in May, collecting the maximum nine points. FC Utrecht recorded victories over NAC Breda (2–0), Ajax (1–2) and Fortuna Sittard (2–0). Thanks to that run, the Utrecht side finished the regular season in sixth place in the Eredivisie.
In May, FC Utrecht conceded the fewest goals (1) and also ranked best in terms of Expected Goals Against (2.6). Going forward, no club registered more shots on target (22) than the Utrecht side.
First monthly award
For Ron Jans, this is his first monthly award. At the same time, it will also be his last, as the 67-year-old from Zwolle will retire from professional football coaching after this season.
Over the course of his career, Jans managed 668 matches at the highest level. With 274 victories, he is the coach with the most wins in Eredivisie history. Across all five of his clubs — FC Groningen, sc Heerenveen, PEC Zwolle, FC Twente and FC Utrecht — he achieved an average win percentage of 41 per cent.
This week, Jans is still fighting for a European ticket with FC Utrecht. On Thursday, the Utrecht side face sc Heerenveen in the play-offs — the very club where Jans himself served as head coach between 2010 and 2012.
Ron Jans with the award, presented by ESPN reporter Kenneth Perez.
About the award
The Rinus Michels Manager of the Month is a new initiative this season by Eredivisie CV, Coaches Betaald Voetbal, De Voetbaltrainer and ESPN. With this award, the initiators aim to provide additional recognition for coaches in the highest tier of Dutch football.
As with the nominations for the annual Rinus Michels Award, all eighteen coaches are assessed using a data model developed by Hypercube. This model takes into account factors such as results achieved, goals scored and conceded, and the relative strength of both the team itself and its opponents.
The latter is determined using the Euro Club Index (ECI). In this ranking, European clubs are evaluated weekly based on their performances in domestic and international competitions. The score provides insight into a club’s current strength and whether a team is overperforming or underperforming.
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