OH Leuven hire Jacobs as Director of Football in restructure

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by Jonathan Rest

OH Leuven have announced a restructure of their sports department, with Ariël Jacobs brought in as Director of Football.

With Ariël Jacobs we add extra football knowledge to our operations. We went looking for an addition to the strong profiles we already have within the club. Ariël brings us extra experience and insights into football and from that experience can serve as an ideal sounding board within all sporting parts of the club.

Peter Willems

CEO, OH Leuven

The top-flight Belgian club has brought several of his departments under the management of a newly-formed sports team that consists of: CEO Peter Willems; Jacobs (pictured); Henk Mariman (Director Football Affairs & Academy manager), Marc Brys (Head Coach) and Eddy Van Hemel, (Director Football Development & U23 coach).

OH Leuven said the new structure will ensure there is more alignment between the men's and women's first teams, the U23s and the academy.

Jacobs, 69, was most recently Chairman of the Youth Committee at the Belgian Pro League, where he oversaw reform of the U23 competition. He is a former manager of Anderlecht, FC Copenhagen and Valenciennes.

Tom Torremans (Head of Recruitment & Scouting) and Rik Vande Velde (Head of Technical Scouting) will work closely with Jacobs within the football department.

Willems said: “With Ariël Jacobs we add extra football knowledge to our operations. We went looking for an addition to the strong profiles we already have within the club. Ariël brings us extra experience and insights into football and from that experience can serve as an ideal sounding board within all sporting parts of the club.”

Jacobs added: “I am happy to be able to work for a club that has a clear sporting vision and that is gradually taking steps forward, both in the development of the club and on the field.”

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