The Football Federation of Armenia has announced the appointment of 61-year-old Dutch specialist John van 't Schip as the head coach of the national team. FFA President Armen Melikbekyan introduced the coach to the Executive Committee members, who unanimously approved his candidacy. The contract follows a "1+1" format, and van 't Schip will officially take up his duties on March 1, 2025.
Playing Career
John van 't Schip is a product of Ajax’s youth system, where he spent 11 years (1981-1992), playing 273 matches and scoring 29 goals. He then continued his career at Italian club Genoa (1992-1996), where he played 107 matches and scored 11 goals.
His biggest achievement as a player was winning the UEFA European Championship with the Netherlands national team in 1988. With Ajax, he won the Dutch league title four times, lifted the KNVB Cup three times, and also claimed both the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup and the UEFA Cup.
Coaching Career
After retiring as a player, van 't Schip began his coaching career within the Ajax system, working with youth teams and serving as an assistant coach. Later, he managed Twente, Australian clubs Melbourne Heart and Melbourne City, Mexican side Guadalajara, PEC Zwolle, and the Greece national team.
His biggest success at the club level came in Australia, where he led Melbourne City to victory in the 2016 Australia Cup.
Van 't Schip’s most recent coaching position was at Ajax, where he served as the head coach during the 2023-2024 season.
In addition to his native Dutch, Van 't Schip can also speak English, Spanish and Italian.
The Armenian national team has been searching for a new head coach since November 2024, following the dismissal of Alexander Petrakov. One match was played under the guidance of Suren Chakharyan. However, the Football Federation has promised to appoint a new coach before the Nations League matches against Georgia, scheduled for March 20 and 23.
Aron Winter will become the assistant coach of the Armenian national team