FC Cincinnati named Gerard Nijkamp their new general manager on Thursday morning. President Jeff Berding held the position previously while also serving as the club’s president.
So, who is Nijkamp? (pronounced NIE-camp)
- Before joining the Orange and Blue, he was the technical director of PEC Zwolle, a club in the Dutch Eredivisie. Zwolle finished 12th in the league this past season. While there, he oversaw the club’s roster, scouting, youth academy and the medical and coaching staffs.
- His highlight with PEC Zwolle was winning the 2015 KNVB Beker – the Dutch Cup – with a 5-1 rout over Ajax Amsterdam. That win qualified Zwolle for the 2014-15 UEFA Europa League. They also won the 2014 Johan Cruijff Cup, which is also known as the Dutch Super Cup.
- Nijkamp initially went to PEC Zwolle as the club’s academy director and coached the Under-19 team. Additionally, he was a member of The Netherlands’ Under-21 National Team coaching staff from 2005-07.
- Later, he left to work as the academy director at Al Ahli (2007-2009) and Al Rayan (2009-2011) in Qatar before returning to Zwolle to become the club’s technical director.
- Now working at FC Cincinnati, Nijkamp will manage the first-team head coach, Technical Director Luke Sassano, Director of Sports Performance Gary Walker and Director of Player Development Larry Sunderland.
- Nijkamp will also help in FCC’s world-wide coaching search that is currently underway.
