# Maurice Steijn Appointed Head Coach at ADO Den Haag Former Ajax and Sparta manager returns to his former club following recent poor results. - **Source:** [NOS Sport](https://nos.nl/sport) - **Published:** 2026-11-09 - **Topic:** [sports](https://brifing.si/c/sports) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/4de96f09-cbb6-4729-b81b-60e0f4718e5b ## Return to Former Club Maurice Steijn has been appointed as the new head coach of ADO Den Haag. The 53-year-old manager returns to the club where he began his professional playing career in 1993. Steijn previously served as the team's head coach from 2011 until 2014, marking his second major stint in this specific leadership role. ## Dismissal of Robin Peter The appointment follows the departure of German coach Robin Peter, who was relieved of his duties just one week ago. Peter's tenure ended abruptly after a series of disappointing league results. The club's decision was further solidified by an early exit from the cup tournament against amateur side Excelsior '31. ## Current League Standing ADO Den Haag currently occupies the seventeenth position in the Eredivisie with nine points total. The team sits six points ahead of last-place Willem II and one point behind Telstar. Despite these struggles, the squad recently secured a 3-1 home victory against Sparta, providing a slight morale boost for the incoming manager. ## Steijn's Coaching Background Steijn possesses extensive experience within the Dutch football landscape, having managed several prominent clubs throughout his career. In 2023, he spent several months leading Ajax before departing the Amsterdam club. Most recently, he served as the manager for Sparta Rotterdam, though his contract was not extended at the end of last season. ## Early Career Roots The Hagenaar's connection to ADO Den Haag spans decades, beginning with his professional debut in the 1993/1994 season. He spent six years playing for the club in the first division before moving to NAC Breda. His coaching path also started here, initially working with youth teams before transitioning into assistant and interim roles. ## Strategic Coaching Challenges Steijn faces the immediate challenge of stabilizing a squad that has struggled with consistency throughout the current campaign. With the team currently in the lower reaches of the Eredivisie table, his primary focus will be improving defensive discipline and securing points to move away from the relegation zone as the season progresses. ## Managerial Transition Dynamics The transition from Robin Peter to Maurice Steijn represents a shift toward a manager with deep institutional knowledge of the club. By hiring someone familiar with the local culture and history, the board aims to restore stability. Steijn must now quickly implement his tactical philosophy to improve the team's overall league standing. ## Future Outlook The success of this appointment will be measured by the team's ability to climb out of the seventeenth position. With the Eredivisie season still in full swing, Steijn has sufficient time to influence the squad's performance. Fans will look to the upcoming matches to see if his return yields immediate competitive improvements. ## Sources covering this story - https://nos.nl/l/2638793 — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._