CINCINNATI — In the midst of a tumultuous inaugural MLS season, FC Cincinnati general manager Gerard Nijkamp announced the official hiring of the team's new head coach: longtime Dutch soccer manager Ron Jans.
The team will formally introduce Jans to fans at a 10 a.m. press conference Monday morning, according to a news release.
"We are excited to get Ron involved with the team as soon as possible and leading us the rest of the season," Nijkamp said in the press release. "He has a pedigree of success and guiding strong clubs, especially through difficult transitions to championships. With his experience and expertise in all aspects of being a head coach, I have full confidence that he will be successful at FC Cincinnati."
Jans will take up the mantle of head coach formerly worn by John Harkes, Alan Koch and, most recently, interim head coach Yoann Damet. Damet, who will remain on staff as Jans' top assistant coach, became the youngest coach in MLS history when he took the position after FC Cincinnati relieved Koch of his duties as head coach.
Jans, a native of the Netherlands, went directly into coaching after a long career as a player that boasted 389 club appearances and 76 professional goals. He's no stranger to working with Nijkamp; the two worked together in 2012 to lead PEC Zwolle to its first major trophy in club history. Nijkamp was the team's technical director at that time, while Jans was brought on as manager.
