Henk de Jong Stays as Cambuur Assistant, New Head Coach Johan Plat Calls Him a ‘Gift’

New Cambuur head coach Johan Plat has described the decision to retain Henk de Jong as his assistant as a major advantage for both himself and the club. In an interview with Voetbal International, Plat said de Jong’s experience and commitment make him an invaluable presence in the dugout.

Plat, who previously managed CD Castellón in Spain, took over at Cambuur this summer. De Jong, the club’s most successful recent manager, had already announced he would not seek a return to the head coach role. Instead, he chose to remain at the club as an assistant, a move Plat fully supports.

A Shared Vision for Attacking Football

Plat and de Jong quickly discovered they share a similar football philosophy. De Jong’s first message to Plat during their initial phone call set the tone: ‘We have to attack here, you know! If you don’t attack, the supporters will let you know!’ Plat confirmed their approaches are closely aligned, both favoring attacking play, high pressing, and creating plenty of goalscoring chances.

‘Henk said, “We have to attack here, you know! If you don’t attack, the supporters will let you know!” The visions of Henk and me naturally overlap quite a bit and are broadly the same. We both want to play attacking football, defend forward, and score many goals,’ Plat explained. ‘So if I ever want to put the brakes on, Henk will step in, haha. But nobody needs to worry about that.’

No Fear of Fan Pressure

Despite Cambuur’s passionate fanbase, who might be tempted to call for de Jong’s return after a few defeats, Plat is unconcerned. He emphasized that de Jong has made it clear he no longer wants to be the main man. Instead, his sole focus is on helping Cambuur win matches.

‘I also read the stories that supporters might start calling for Henk after a few defeats, but I am really not afraid of that at all,’ Plat said. ‘Henk has clearly indicated that he no longer wants to be head coach, and he has only one interest: that Cambuur wins matches. He helps me as best he can with that.’

De Jong had considered watching matches from the stands to stay in the background, but Plat confirmed he will be alongside him in the dugout, ready to offer advice and support.

Key Facts

Why This Matters for Cambuur and Eerste Divisie Fans

For Cambuur supporters, the continuity provided by de Jong’s presence is reassuring. He guided the club to promotion in the 2020-21 season and is deeply embedded in the club’s identity. His willingness to step back and support a younger coach shows a selfless commitment to the club’s long-term success.

For followers of the Keuken Kampioen Divisie, the Plat-de Jong partnership is an interesting dynamic. It pairs a relatively young, internationally experienced coach with a proven, attack-minded veteran. If they can translate their shared philosophy into consistent results, Cambuur could be a strong contender in the promotion race.

The combination of Plat’s modern approach and de Jong’s local knowledge and tactical sharpness could be a significant advantage. Plat’s willingness to learn from de Jong, while also bringing his own ideas, suggests a healthy working relationship that should benefit the squad.

What to Watch For

The key will be how the partnership handles adversity. Plat’s confidence is high now, but the true test will come during a run of poor results. If de Jong remains in the background as promised, it will validate his new role. If not, the dynamic could shift. For now, Cambuur appears to have a coaching setup built on mutual respect and a shared attacking vision.

Source: Voetbal International – ‘Henk de Jong is een geschenk, voor mij als trainer én voor de club’