Patrick van Leeuwen returns to Shakhtar as Academy Director
The Dutch specialist has been appointed as the new head of Shakhtar's Academy following his recent departure from Kryvbas.
Патріка ван Леувен та Сергій Палкін, фото ФК ШАХТАР ДОНЕЦЬК
Shakhtar Donetsk has officially announced the return of Dutch specialist Patrick van Leeuwen to the club's structure. The 57-year-old has been appointed as the new Director of the club's Academy. He has signed a three-year contract and is set to begin his duties in November.
This marks a return to a familiar environment for van Leeuwen, who served as a coordinator and leader of the youth setup at the club between 2006 and 2013. During his initial tenure, the club's academy reached a high level, becoming a leading institution in Ukraine and developing numerous players for the first team and the national side.
The Dutchman most recently managed Kryvbas. The two parties mutually agreed to part ways on October 24, 2026, amid poor results that saw the team sitting at the bottom of the Ukrainian Premier League table after seven rounds, alongside media reports regarding financial issues within the club.
In addition to his youth development roles, van Leeuwen previously held the position of head coach for Shakhtar's first team from July to October 2023.