OTHER At 41, the Dutchman Marijn Beuker is emerging as one of the most remarkable figures in modern football. He was shaped in Amsterdam, with experience at the Barça Innovation Hub and the Johan Cruyff University. He built his reputation on a firm conviction: football must evolve, and quickly. Beuker made his name during fourteen years at AZ Alkmaar, where he helped transform the academy with an approach that combined data analysis, training methodology and individual development.
In 2021 he surprised many by moving to Queen's Park on a ten?year contract and with a free hand to modernise a historic but outdated club. Two years later, on the recommendation of Louis van Gaal, he was brought to Ajax, then in sporting and structural crisis. His time in Amsterdam did not go unnoticed. Several staff members describe him as a visionary but uncompromising executive, who implemented extreme centralisation of data through the Soccerlab software.
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Continue reading That drive to structure everything — including medical data — sparked tensions with doctors and physiotherapists. A wave of departures and internal complaints followed. Still, Beuker is valued for his ability to implement a coherent philosophy, something Anderlecht currently lacks. Robin Veldman, who has worked at Anderlecht and Queen's Park, stresses Beuker's role in designing a playing system, an academy model and an integrated scouting system.
Beuker sees himself as a builder, convinced that football must reinvent itself through science, collaboration and education. In Neerpede his profile therefore provokes curiosity. Anderlecht has been searching for a sustainable sporting direction for years, after a string of sporting directors and aborted projects.
Beuker's expertise in youth development, structuring and analysis could meet several of RSCA's needs. His leadership style, labelled rigid by some, nevertheless raises questions. Marijn Beuker would be a bold choice and also a risky step. Anderlecht will have to weigh whether his profile truly fits the culture the club wants to establish.
