Reedijk’s unbeaten blueprint meets Hibs’ struggling start in September

Marink Reedijk, the 35‑year‑old Dutchman, was appointed Hibernian manager on 24 September 2026, succeeding David Gray and pledging an ‘intense and aggressive’ playing style while warning that patience will be needed to turn the club’s fortunes around at Easter Road as fans watch the new era unfold. He arrived with assistant Rogier Molhoek and will travel with the squad to La Manga tomorrow before his first match away to Dundee United on 10 October.

Reedijk’s résumé includes academy roles at Ajax and West Brom, senior positions at KSV Roeselare, Vitesse and Anderlecht Futures, and two seasons in charge of Belgian side Beveren, where he delivered notable success.

Unbeaten record in Belgium

In his final season at Beveren, Reedijk guided the club to an unbeaten run of 32 games – 28 wins and four draws – scoring 74 goals while conceding only 23, a feat not achieved in any Belgian professional league since 1934.

The campaign culminated in promotion to the Belgian Pro League and an unbeaten championship, cementing his reputation for organising dominant, proactive teams.

He left Beveren in June after that historic triumph, saying the club’s history and the passion of its supporters drew him to Edinburgh and the unique identity of Hibernian.

Hibs’ challenges and early fixtures

Hibs sit 10th in the Scottish Premiership, having won only two of their opening six matches, and David Gray was dismissed after four defeats in that span.

Reedijk’s first competitive test will be against Dundee United on 10 October, followed by a Scottish Cup semi‑final versus city rivals Hearts on 1 November, his fifth match in charge.

‘I want fans to identify with a team that is intense, aggressive, proactive and brave,’ Reedijk said, adding that he does not possess a wand to change things overnight and that the transformation will take time.

Sporting director Malky Mackay praised Reedijk’s proactive, high‑energy philosophy and his ability to develop individuals within a collective, while chairman Ian Gordon called him the standout candidate whose clarity, intelligence and drive impressed the board.

Reedijk joins fellow Belgian Wouter Vrancken, who recently took over Hearts, highlighting a growing trend of Belgian coaches moving to the Scottish capital.

The contrast between Reedijk’s unbeaten record in Belgium and Hibs’ early‑season struggles underscores the challenge ahead, but his promise of an aggressive, entertaining brand of football offers a clear direction for the club’s revival.