Melbourne Heart have extended coach John van’t Schip’s contract by three years, confirming he will be in charge when Manchester City take over the A-League club.
Van’t Schip will now coach the Heart until the end of the 2016-17 season.
He returned to the club in December after John Aloisi was sacked and the rescue mission has worked spectacularly well, with the Heart turning around their season in the last 11 rounds.
In their last nine games they have earned 20 out of a possible 27 points with six wins, two draws and a loss.
Also in January, Manchester City announced they would become Heart’s majority owners in mid-year.
Heart chief executive Scott Munn said van’t Schip had demonstrated his leadership skills and successful coaching approach in contributing to the resurrection of the team’s fortunes this season.
“John has not only secured great results and helped the team build on our philosophy of playing attractive football, but he has illustrated that he has the ability and desire to take the Club forward next season,” Munn said in a club statement.
Van’t Schip, 50, was the Heart’s inaugural head coach and was in charge from 2009-11.
“The club is well positioned for the future,” the former Dutch international said.
“My current focus is to finish this season as strongly as possible.”
Source: AAP.