New Hibernian head coach Marink Reedijk guided Belgian side Beveren on a once-in-a-lifetime adventure, and the man who appointed him to that job is confident he can pull off a repeat turnaround in Edinburgh.
Bob Peeters, the technical director who took Reedijk from Anderlecht's B Team to the Belgian second division, watched the 34-year-old lead Beveren on a stunning undefeated promotion push back to the Pro League within two years. But while that second year was a dream season, his first was far more up and down, with his team failing to win half of their 32 league games.
Peeters backs Reedijk to adapt
Reedijk is still waiting for his first victory as Hibs boss after his new side slipped to a 1-0 defeat at Dundee United on Saturday in his first game in charge. Peeters, who had a spell in charge of Charlton a decade ago, expects David Gray's replacement to repeat the trick at Easter Road.
Peeters told Record Sport: "I am a huge fan of everything Marink did for us and was deeply disappointed when he chose to leave.
"Hibs are getting an attacking coach. For me, as a human being, he's very open, honest and direct. He's a good people manager, even though he's still young. He was very close with his players and had good relationships.
"But when he had to make tough decisions or tell a player he's not going to play or whatever, he did it in one-on-one. He's very honest and open in his communication.
"We built the style of play over the last two years with him.
"Especially last season, he was very attacking with a lot of pressure on the ball. We went the season undefeated. We played 32 games, won 28 and got 88 points.
"It's a season that's never going to happen again. We drew four games and won the rest. I think it was an incredible season.
"But that was the Belgian second division.
"I've also been in England and I know it's a completely different kind of football in the UK.
"So for his development, I think it's a good step to go to Edinburgh.
"Marink could play his own style every game last season. Now he needs to adapt.
"In Scotland, the game is more direct football. It's more physical where you need to win the second ball.
"He's had the experience of playing in a more tactical league in Belgium, now he'll have a new one in a more physical league."
Fans urged to back new boss
There were angry scenes at Tannadice as furious Hibs fans clashed with police while protesting against the club's recent slump. Peeters has urged the Leith supporters to stand behind their new boss.
"I think the word 'supporters' says it all," he said. "You need to support your team, especially a young manager who did an incredible job with Beveren.
"You need to give him time to get the players adapting to his way of playing.
"Two years ago in the first season, it was not a rose garden for us.
"The fans were not happy because we were losing some games. But he turned it around and got to an unbeaten season last season.
"Of course, he needs to adapt to a different culture and a different kind of playing. But I think the most important thing I can tell the fans is that he will do everything 24-7 to get the best out of each and every player.
"He's very dedicated and he'll work night and day to get the best out of everybody.
"I hope that he will get some results soon so everybody gets the confidence back because I know when you're not highly ranked position-wise in the table, everybody gets nervous.
"But Marink has showed already that he can turn around things.
"I'm really curious to see how he'll cope in Scotland. It will be a next step in his career."
Reedijk's departure explained
If Peeters had his way, Reedijk would still be back in Belgium. But he was forced to bid farewell when Beveren's owners admitted they could not give their young boss the answers he was seeking on the future. Just days after completing their Invincible campaign, Reedijk left the club stunned when he announced he was leaving.
Peeters said: "Yeah, I did everything until the last day to keep him on board.
"We are under American ownership and at that moment Marink - who is very structural, very pragmatic - he wanted to know the planning, he wanted to know the ambition, he wanted the budget.
"Unfortunately at that point in May, we couldn't provide him a plan.
"For him, it was not clear enough so he said, 'OK, I'm walking away'.
"For us, it was very disappointing because I worked with him two years very closely.
"He's still a young inexperienced manager having come from the under-21s of Anderlecht.
"But in the two years with us, he developed well.
"For me, I'm very happy that he has a new club, a good club in Scotland.
"It is what it is and I understand at that moment that I couldn't give him all the answers and the security he needed to build on his future as a coach.
"I wish him all the best, no worries.
"But yeah for us, it was a bit devastating that he went.
"It was a big decision for Marink, but at the end of the day, it's his career and he needs to move forward.
"The ideal scenario was that we stayed together and we would look to build on what we were building.
"But OK, he took another decision and know we are moving on with our new coach.
"I'll be watching keenly to see how Marink does with Hibs. I'm sure he will succeed."
