Two-time finalists Kerala Blasters have appointed Dutchman Eelco Schattorie as head coach for the upcoming Indian Super League (ISL) season on Sunday.
Having over 20 years of coaching experience, the bulk of which was in the Middle East, the 47-year-old, Schattorie was the youngest ever in his native, to obtain the highest tier UEFA PRO license under the official guidelines of the Dutch Football Association.
His first assignment in India was as head coach of Prayag United of the I-League, where under his leadership, the club finished in the fourth position. Going forward, he went on to manage East Bengal, also a part of the I-league. Before returning to India to join the North East United FC, Schattorie spent a brief stint at the Al-Ettifaq, Saudi Arabia, wherein he saved the team from relegation.
“It is an honour to start leading this club back to glory. A club with the biggest fan base in ISL should be entertained with a winning team. That’s what we are going to try and accomplish with passion, teamwork and dedication at all levels. Let the journey start soon!”, says a very excited and determined Schattorie.
One of Schattorie’s biggest achievements during his 12 year stay at VVV Venlo, his first club was to successfully bring in a lot of talents from the youth academy to the first team. This is very much in line with the vision of Kerala Blasters to invest in, develop and grow young local talents who can go on to represent the country on a National and an International level. “Kerala has a pool of young players in their backyard and hopefully we can start building players into the senior team with a Kerala heart”, says Schattorie, speaking of the KBFC squad.
“It is said that victory or defeat is not determined at the moment of crisis, but rather in the long and unspectacular period of preparation. Kerala is with Eelco in this journey for Season 6 and I'm sure he will leave no stone unturned in preparation”, says Viren D’Silva, CEO of Kerala Blasters.
