ADO Den Haag Target Maurice Steijn After Sacking Robin Peter
ADO Den Haag are moving quickly to identify a successor to Robin Peter, with the Eredivisie club reportedly making a strong push to bring former manager Maurice Steijn back to the Hague. Omroep West reporter Jim van Deijl reported on Monday afternoon that ADO are going all out to appoint the experienced Dutch coach as they look to halt a difficult start to the season.
The club dismissed Peter on Monday morning after a run of poor results left ADO in danger of falling further behind in the fight for top-flight survival. Their latest setback, a 1-0 away defeat to PEC Zwolle, proved to be the final straw. With pressure mounting and points at a premium, the management has turned to a familiar name who understands the club, its supporters and the demands of the Eredivisie.
Why ADO Den Haag Made a Change
ADO currently sit 17th in the league table with six points. They are three points behind Telstar, who occupy 16th place, and the gap underlines how urgently the club needs to improve. While the season is still young enough for a recovery, every match now carries added significance for a team already looking over its shoulder.
Peter’s dismissal reflects the pressure facing clubs in the lower half of the Eredivisie. A poor sequence can quickly turn a manageable position into a relegation concern, particularly when a side struggles to convert performances into points. ADO’s defeat at PEC Zwolle was narrow, but the result extended the sense that the team was not moving in the right direction.
The coaching change is therefore more than a reaction to one match. ADO’s leadership will be hoping a new appointment can restore confidence, sharpen the team’s organisation and provide a clear plan for the months ahead. The immediate objective is straightforward: collect points and climb away from the bottom of the table.
Maurice Steijn Emerges as the Leading Candidate
According to Omroep West, Steijn has already held talks with a delegation from ADO Den Haag. His local connections and previous experience at the club make him a compelling candidate at a moment when the team needs stability as well as a fresh start.
Steijn was born in The Hague and began his coaching career within ADO’s youth system. He later took charge of the first team, managing the club across 100 matches between 2011 and 2014. That spell gives him direct knowledge of ADO’s football culture and the expectations that come with leading one of the Netherlands’ best-known clubs.
For supporters, the possibility of a return may offer an appealing combination of familiarity and experience. A coach who has worked at the club before can often settle into the role more quickly than an outsider, although past connections alone cannot guarantee results. Steijn would still need to assess the squad, identify its biggest weaknesses and build momentum on the pitch.
A Career Across Dutch and International Football
Since leaving ADO’s first team, Steijn has built a varied coaching career. His roles have included VVV-Venlo, the United Arab Emirates club Al-Wahda, NAC Breda, Sparta Rotterdam and Ajax. He later returned to Sparta for a second spell, leaving the Rotterdam side last summer after deciding not to extend his contract.
That range of experience could be valuable for a struggling ADO side. Steijn has worked in different club environments, handled the pressure of Dutch football and experienced the expectations that accompany a high-profile appointment. His time at multiple Eredivisie clubs has also given him a broad understanding of the league’s tactical demands and the challenges faced by teams operating under financial and sporting pressure.
His previous work at Sparta may be particularly relevant. The Rotterdam club has had to navigate difficult periods and compete against better-resourced opponents, circumstances that share some similarities with ADO’s current situation. If appointed, Steijn would be expected to make his team hard to beat while finding ways to produce more threat in attack.
What Steijn Could Bring to ADO
ADO’s immediate need is not simply a change of personality in the dugout. The next coach must help the players regain belief and deliver a more consistent level of performance. In a relegation battle, defensive discipline, effective transitions and composure in decisive moments can be just as important as attractive football.
Steijn’s familiarity with ADO could help him communicate those priorities quickly. He knows the club’s history and the intensity surrounding its supporters, while his experience elsewhere may offer fresh ideas for a squad that needs a reset. A successful appointment would need to balance both sides: respect for the club’s identity and a practical approach to the points required for survival.
There will also be questions about how quickly any new manager can influence results. A coach arriving during the season has limited time to reshape a squad, and the first priority is usually to make the team more reliable. Small improvements—better concentration at the back, more purposeful counterattacks or greater efficiency from set pieces—can have an outsized impact in a tight league campaign.
A Crucial Period Ahead
ADO’s next fixtures will provide an early test of the club’s response to Peter’s departure. The team cannot afford to let uncertainty around the managerial position distract from the task of earning points. Whether Steijn is appointed or the club chooses another candidate, the incoming coach will inherit a side that needs results quickly.
For now, the reported talks point to Steijn as a serious contender, but an appointment has not been confirmed. ADO’s supporters will be watching closely for clarity, particularly as the club tries to close the gap on the teams above them. The choice could shape the direction of the season and determine whether ADO can turn a difficult opening into a successful survival campaign.
With his Hague roots, previous ADO experience and extensive coaching background, Steijn appears to fit the profile of a manager capable of making an immediate impact. The key question is whether he can translate that familiarity into points. In a season where every result matters, ADO’s next decision—and the football that follows—could prove decisive.
