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Arsenal Confirm Dutch Duo Will Join The Club This Summer As Part Of Major Youth Shake-Up

By on April 3, 2014

Arsenal have confirmed today that Dutchman Frans de Kat and Jan van Loon will join the club this summer as part of a major shake-up of the youth coaching set-up.

Andries Jonker was appointed as the new manager of the clubs academy recently and he’s had a significant say in the duo following him to the Emirates.

The re-organisation will take effect on July 1, when existing Under-18’s coach Carl Laraman will move up to join Steve Gatting with the Under-21 squad following the decision of Terry Burton to leave Arsenal at the end of the season.

Frans de Kat will then take over leading the Under-18’s side along with Kwame Amapdu – who will move up from coaching the Under-16’s – while Jan van Loon will then take over coaching the Under-16’s.

De Kat has significant experience in the game having coached with the Royal Dutch Football Association at both Under-15 and under-16 level, while he’s also worked as a head scout and head of youth academy at Willem II Tilburg and ADO Den Haag.

van Loon also has a wealth of experience in Holland having worked at Willem II Tilburg and PSV Eindhoven before taking up a coaching role with the Dutch FA, where he works with the national youth teams.

It’s certainly a huge overhaul of Arsenal’s youth set-up right the way through from Under-16 to Under-21 level, and I just hope all the change’s turn out to be positive and aren’t too disruptive.