Hibs turn to Reedijk after seven-hour talks
Hibernian have turned to 35-year-old Dutchman Marink Reedijk to lift them up the Scottish Premiership. He will take charge for the first time away to Dundee United at Tannadice on Saturday, with Hibs sitting 10th in Scotland's top flight.
It was a long conversation that won him over. Reedijk first spoke to Hibs on Zoom. Days later he sat down with the board in London for seven hours. That meeting convinced him Easter Road was the right place, BBC Sport reports.
He arrives from Belgium. Reedijk left Beveren after guiding the club to promotion last season. Hibs had moved fast after sacking David Gray eight days before the appointment, Sky Sports reports. Talk of the move had been building for weeks, with a BBC Sport gossip column on 22 September linking the ex-Beveren head coach to the vacancy.
He has not eased in. Reedijk joined the squad straight away at a warm-weather training camp in La Manga, Spain. He conducted his first interview as Hibernian manager during that trip. His verdict on the work was blunt: very intense and demanding.
In a Hibernian video published on 6 October, he expanded on his coaching philosophy and reflected on that week in Spain. He later described his fast-track preparation for the Dundee United game as "pre-season on steroids". For a squad in the middle of the season, it was a shock to the system by design.
What will Hibs look like? Reedijk has talked about playing on the front foot. That means pressing high, winning the ball early and attacking with pace rather than sitting back. He said he felt "honoured" to take the job and that the club's ambition drove his decision, BBC Sport reports. His promise to supporters is simple: to give Hibs fans a team to be proud of, Hibernian FC reports.
For fans, this means something fresh and unfamiliar. Former Easter Road midfielder Allan called the hire bold and positive, but also risky. A young coach from outside Scotland with one promotion on his record is not the safe pick. It is the brave one.
Saturday offers an instant test. Tannadice is loud and tight, no gentle introduction for a new manager. Dundee United at home will press and run. Reedijk will learn quickly what Scottish football demands: tempo, duels and big moments in both boxes. Hibs fans will learn just as quickly what he demands back.
What makes this stand out is the conviction on both sides. Seven hours is a long time to talk football. It suggests Hibs saw more than a CV, and Reedijk saw more than a job. Now comes the part no meeting can rehearse.
