Sparta Rotterdam hoping to appoint former Go Ahead Eagles and Wolfsburg head coach as Maurice Steijn’s replacement

TL;DR

Sparta Rotterdam is looking to appoint Paul Simonis as the replacement for Maurice Steijn for the 2026/2027 season. Simonis previously coached Go Ahead Eagles and Wolfsburg but was sacked after a disappointing stint in Germany.

Key points

Sparta Rotterdam seeks to replace Maurice Steijn
Paul Simonis is the leading candidate for the position
Simonis previously coached Go Ahead Eagles and Wolfsburg
He won the KNVB Cup with Go Ahead Eagles
Simonis was sacked after a poor run at Wolfsburg

Mentioned in this story

Paul SimonisMaurice Steijn

Sparta RotterdamGo Ahead EaglesWolfsburg

Sparta Rotterdam hoping to appoint former Go Ahead Eagles and Wolfsburg head coach as Maurice Steijn’s replacement

ESPN are reporting that Sparta Rotterdam are hoping to appoint former Go Ahead Eagles and Wolfsburg head coach Paul Simonis as Maurice Steijn’s replacement for the 2026/2027 season. Steijn confirmed that he will be leaving the club a few weeks ago and it appears that Sparta Rotterdam will turn to Simonis as his replacement.

Simonis did a fantastic job at Go Ahead Eagles last season, taking them into Europe by winning the KNVB Cup. His success did not go unnoticed, with Bundesliga side Wolfsburg taking him away from the Netherlands last summer. However, Simonis’ time in Wolfsburg did not go as planned. Simonis only managed 12 games in Germany, with Wolfsburg losing seven, drawing two and winning just three. The Dutch head coach was sacked back in November.

Recently, Simonis had been linked with the vacancy at Anderlecht, showing how high his stock still appeared to be despite the struggles with Wolfsburg. However, the sides off field issues put off Simonis and many other candidates. Now, it appears that Simonis will be taking up the role at Sparta Rotterdam instead.

GBeNeFN | Ben Jackson

Q&A

Who is Paul Simonis and what is his coaching history?

Paul Simonis is a Dutch football coach known for his successful tenure at Go Ahead Eagles, where he led the team to a KNVB Cup victory, and a brief, challenging period at Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga.

Why did Maurice Steijn leave Sparta Rotterdam?

Maurice Steijn confirmed his departure from Sparta Rotterdam a few weeks ago, although specific reasons for his exit have not been detailed in the reports.

What were Paul Simonis's results at Wolfsburg?

During his time at Wolfsburg, Paul Simonis managed 12 games, with the team winning only three, drawing two, and losing seven before he was sacked in November.