Rick Kruys has been appointed as NAC Breda's new head coach on a two-year contract, the Keuken Kampioen Divisie club confirmed on Tuesday. The 41-year-old Utrecht native replaces Carl Hoefkens, who was dismissed following a post-summer evaluation. Kruys will take his first training session on Wednesday and face his opening match in the dugout on Friday, giving him minimal time to settle into the role.
Technical director Peter Maas outlined the club's reasoning for the swift appointment: "From several candidates, we immediately went all in for Rick Kruys. He knows what it means to compete for honours in the Keuken Kampioen Divisie. Rick knows our clear ambition and wants to get to work on it straight away." Hoefkens' departure came after the club identified multiple areas requiring improvement during their summer review, none of which materialised under his watch.
Kruys' Track Record in Dutch Football
Kruys brings significant experience in the second tier and lower divisions. Most recently, he guided FC Volendam to promotion to the Eredivisie in 2025, though their top-flight adventure lasted only one season before relegation via a penalty shootout loss to Willem II in the play-offs. Prior to Volendam, he held interim and assistant roles at FC Utrecht and managed VVV-Venlo, steering the Limburg outfit to the Keuken Kampioen Play-Offs.
As a player, Kruys spent formative years at Utrecht before stints with Excelsior Rotterdam and Swedish side Malmö FF, establishing himself as a respected figure across multiple clubs. His combination of domestic league experience and knowledge of NAC's competitive environment in the second tier positions him as an informed choice for driving the club forward.
Kruys expressed genuine enthusiasm about joining NAC, stating: "Everyone knows how the club are experienced in the city and by the supporters. That suits me as well. It is my task to get to work immediately with the technical staff and the group of players." With Friday's fixture already looming, Kruys faces an immediate test to demonstrate why NAC's leadership moved decisively to secure his services before the season gains momentum.
