PEC Zwolle Sack Henry van der Vegt After Poor Start to Season

PEC Zwolle sack Henry van der Vegt

PEC Zwolle have become the first Eredivisie club this season to sack their manager, with Henry van der Vegt dismissed after a torrid start that has left the Blauwvingers 16th and nursing the league's second-worst defensive record.

PEC Zwolle have made the first managerial change of the Eredivisie season...

PEC Zwolle have become the first Eredivisie club this season to make a managerial change, dismissing Henry van der Vegt following a miserable start.

Eight games into the campaign, PEC are 16th in the table with just one win and five losses. The Blauwvingers also have the second-leakiest defence in the league, having shipped 21 goals.

The low point came in round six, when the club suffered its heaviest ever top-flight defeat, a 7-0 thrashing at home to Feyenoord. Last weekend, their struggles continued with a 1-0 home loss to newly promoted Cambuur, their third consecutive defeat.

Following that run, the board decided on Tuesday to part ways with Van der Vegt after the winless start to the season.

“In our view, there was too little stability and progress evident on the sporting front,” technical director Gerry Hamstra said on the club website.

Van der Vegt was appointed manager in June 2025 after six years as an assistant. In his first season in charge, the former KNVB Beker winners finished 15th, five points clear of relegation.

In total, Van der Vegt spent 12 years at PEC Zwolle, initially serving as Director of Football from 2002 to 2005 before returning as a youth coach and later assistant manager.

“We are grateful to Henry for what he has meant to PEC Zwolle, the club that has been a constant presence throughout his life,” Hamstra continued.

“Not only during his time as head coach, but also in the roles he held prior to that. Furthermore, it was always a pleasure to work with Henry. We would therefore like to wish him all the very best for the future.”

 

PEC Zwolle neemt afscheid van Henry van der Vegt PEC Zwolle heeft het dienstverband met trainer/coach Henry van der Vegt per direct beëindigd. Van der Vegt (54) was bezig aan zijn tweede seizoen als hoofdtrainer in Zwolle, na jaren assistent-trainer te zijn geweest. Bedankt voor alles, Henry 💙 Lees hier verder: https://t.co/ZHhEzdVyNo #peczwolle

— PEC Zwolle (@PECZwolle) October 13, 2026

Across 44 games under Van der Vegt, PEC Zwolle recorded 22 wins and 11 defeats.

Next up for the Zwolle side is the IJsselderby against Go Ahead Eagles at the MAC³PARK Stadion on Sunday, October 18th, with kick-off at 12:15 CEST.