Foppe de Haan has identified Stijn Schaars as a serious future candidate for the manager's job at SC Heerenveen. The legendary Frisian coach called the former midfielder an excellent option to eventually succeed Robin Veldman. De Haan, an icon at the club himself, made these remarks in an extensive interview about the club's future.
Schaars is currently in charge of Jong PSV and is making a strong impression there. "Yes, he would be a good replacement," De Haan said. "He is a good coach. They are very satisfied with him at PSV." The former Netherlands U21 manager made the comments this week. He emphasized that Schaars has the right mentality and football knowledge for such a role.
Positive noises
Club watcher Roelof de Vries also echoed the positive sentiments about Schaars. "When he was a player and I interviewed him, I already thought: this will be a coach," De Vries explained. "When you talk football with Schaars, you really get the feeling you know nothing about football yourself. He can explain it so easily and well." De Vries predicts Schaars can become a top-level manager. He pointed out that Schaars was already a coach on the pitch as a player and always had a sharp analytical eye.
The discussion arose from the question of whether Schaars would ever return to the Abe Lenstra Stadium, this time as head coach. Schaars played for Heerenveen from 2005 to 2011 and was a midfield mainstay. He made over 150 league appearances for the club and was a popular player with the fans. His coaching career began in PSV's youth setup before he progressed to his current role with Jong PSV. There he leads the reserve team in the Keuken Kampioen Divisie.
Ambition and feasibility
There is some doubt about the immediate feasibility of a return. Another observer noted that Schaars might be groomed at PSV to eventually succeed Peter Bosz, which would make him less attainable for Heerenveen. The club under Robin Veldman is meanwhile working on its own project, focusing on upcoming league matches. Veldman has a contract until mid-2026 and the club's management has confidence in his approach. The current standings show where Heerenveen sits in the Eredivisie.
For now, Schaars remains committed to PSV, where he is taking his first steps as a head coach. He has a contract with the Eindhoven club. The interest from Friesland does underline the reputation the 40-year-old has built in a short time. The conversation about his future is now open. Heerenveen first turns its attention to the next fixture, which can be found in the fixtures. The club will continue to monitor Schaars's developments from a distance, a source indicated.
