Soccer

FAI high performance director Ruud Dokter announces departure

Dutchman has been in the role since 2013 but will leave at the end of December

File photo of Ruud Dokter with Stephen Kenny. Photo: Ryan Byrne/Inpho

Fri Nov 5 2021 - 14:11

Ruud Dokter will leave the FAI after eight years in the role of high performance director, it was announced on Friday.

The Dutchman was appointed in 2013, taking over from Wim Koevermans. Dokter came in with a strong reputation after holding a number of jobs at the Dutch FA, including as manager of the women’s team and various male underage teams.

Dokter was behind the implementation of the player development plan in Ireland which was introduced in 2015 and set down features such as minimum game-time, roll-on, roll-off substitutes and twin matches at younger age groups with no league tables until under-12 level.

The introduction of the elite national leagues at under-13, under-15, under-17 and under-19 level was also part of the plan.

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In a statement released by the FAI on Friday, Dokter announced that he would be leaving at the end of the current year.

“I have informed CEO Jonathan Hill and the board of the FAI that I will be leaving my role on December 31st,” he said. “I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at the FAI and I will be forever proud of the work that we have undertaken together at the FAI and the positive moves we have made for the game in Ireland. I believe football is stronger than ever before at all levels of the game in Ireland and with a clear pathway for players and coaches that can lead Ireland to greater success on the international stage in years to come, as framed within the ongoing FAI Strategy 2022-2025 debate.

“This couldn’t have happened without having such excellent, passionate and dedicated staff and I want to thank them all for their hard work to bring high performance to the next level. I also want to thank my colleagues and everyone who has worked with me for the last eight years as we strived to make Irish football better for all concerned. Lastly, I want to acknowledge the great work done by coaches and volunteers in clubs and leagues across the country, particularly in the underage game. It was an honour and a privilege to represent the FAI as its high performance director for those years and I appreciate the continued support I received from Stephen, Vera, the Board and CEO Jonathan Hill.”

Ireland manager Stephen Kenny began working with Dokter three years ago when he took over as under-21s manager and he holds the Dutchman in high regard, praising the impact he has had on the game in Ireland.

“It has been a great experience for me working with Ruud for almost three years, firstly with the under-21’s and then the senior international team,” Kenny said.

“The players and their development were at the centre of every decision he took as he helped create and foster an ego free culture amongst the coaches. Ruud would always ask the question ‘what is best for the player?’ Having studied different development plans and systems throughout Europe he had a clear vision of how to develop players in Ireland and was prepared to make unpopular decisions to improve the development of football in Ireland and the culture supporting that. He helped instil good values in all the coaches of the international teams and encouraged a healthy working relationship so that players could move freely throughout the age groups with their progress at the epicentre of all of the decisions. On a personal note I have never heard Ruud raise his voice, he treats everyone with respect and is always an absolute gentleman and I want to wish him the very best for the future.”