Hectic Marink Reedijk Hibs launch marathon pre‑season, coffee chaos

Marink Reedijk arrived at Hibs amid a whirlwind of activity, swapping the calm of a traditional pre‑season for a fortnight‑long sprint that saw the team travel to La Manga, endure double‑session training and endure a coffee‑machine mishap, all while trying to memorise a flood of new names.

Pre‑season on steroids

Appointed on September 24 to replace David Gray, the 35‑year‑old Dutchman launched what he called a “pre‑season on steroids”, cramming a summer’s worth of work into two weeks. Hibs flew to La Manga to absorb his tactical ideas, training from six o’clock in the morning until eleven at night. Reedijk also held half‑hour one‑to‑one meetings with every squad member, aiming to understand each player’s personal goals and ambitions.

Player meetings and community

During the intensive camp, Reedijk spent thirty minutes with each of the 21‑22 players, discussing their lives off the pitch and what they expect from the club. He later described the schedule as “really intense”, noting that five players were assessed each day. After returning to Edinburgh, he visited a fan forum on Thursday and spoke at East Mains, joking that he had forgotten his own name after meeting so many journalists.

Tactical vision and future

At his first Hibs pre‑match press conference, Reedijk announced that the “pre‑season on steroids is now over” as the side prepared to face Dundee United at Tannadice on Saturday. He expressed confidence, saying, “I feel a good buy‑in, I feel a good vibe, I feel very good energy from the players, staff and fans.” Reedijk plans to employ a 4‑2‑3‑1 formation, the system that helped Beveren win the Belgian second tier with 28 wins and four draws, and he has already signed former Rangers winger Rabbi Matondo to add width.

Reedijk, who also highlighted the importance of housing and personal elements for his staff, believes that “30 minutes is not enough, but it’s a good starting point” to understand what makes each player tick. He stressed that everyone is at a different stage of their career, and that building a sense of belonging is essential for progress.

Mark Atkinson, Head of Sport Comment, noted that a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman offers unlimited access to premium content, underscoring the growing interest in Reedijk’s early days at Easter Road. The hectic start, with its marathon training, coffee‑machine drama and endless introductions, reveals a manager intent on forging a close‑knit, high‑intensity squad ready for the challenges ahead.