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Hendrik Pieter de Jongh (born 8 December 1970) is a Dutch football manager and former player at Sparta Rotterdam who has coached several professional football clubs around the world including Budapest Honvéd, Kenyan Premier League side A.F.C. Leopards and F.C. Cape Town.
Career
Born in Asperen, Netherlands, De Jongh began his playing career at NAC Breda, before moving to Sparta Rotterdam. His professional career was cut short due to a serious ankle injury.
De Jongh then moved into coaching, beginning his managerial career at RKC Waalwijk as a youth coach, before becoming a youth coach for the Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB). He moved on to manage vv VRC in Veenendaal, FC Dordrecht's reserve team and Vitesse Delft before becoming the assistant coach of AZ in the Eredivisie. He then went to Hungary to become the academy director of Budapest Honvéd.
Budapest Honvéd
In December 2013 he signed his contract ready to commence duties as the new technical director for Budapest Budapest Honvéd. During his tenure, he strove to bring the Dutch philosophy to the academy.
A.F.C. Leopards
On 15 May 2014, Kenyan Premier League giants A.F.C. Leopards announced that De Jongh was set to take over at the club, subject to personal terms. He landed in Kenya and completed his move to the club on 17 May.
De Jongh's first match at the helm of Ingwe was a Nairobi derby league match against arch-rivals Gor Mahia. He guided his team to a 3–1 win, and after the match praised his team's spirit going into the game.. One of his great achievements with the club was getting them to 2014 CECAFA Nile Basin Cup finals for the first time in history . Ugandan side Victoria University. but went ahead to received the award for best runner up coach of the tournament.
Fans and management alike disagreed with his tactical methods and selectionsHowever, De Jongh said he was not worried about the fansbecause his method worked during the team's performances in the Nile Basin Cup, the derby win , and pulling the club up from last in the ranking to 6th. KPL Top 8 Cup .
On 28 December 2014, soon after the win over Bandari, club chairman Allan Kasavuli announced that De Jongh will no longer be working as head coach, in what he termed as poor season at the helm that saw the team finish the 2014 season in 6th from last, with 32 points in 16 matches.the 14th coach to have his contract terminated without notice by the club in five years.
In January 2015, De Jongh returned to training with A.F.C. Leopards, claiming there was no prior notice before his dismissaland months of unpaid salary, a case he took forward to the sports tribunal and won a year later
F.C. Cape Town
After leaving F.C leopard he moved to South Africawhere he joined F.C. Cape Townas their new head coach until later in the year.
Ulaanbaatar City F.C.
In 2016, he signed a 3 month contract at club Ulaanbatar city F.C. in Mongolia's capital as its head coach He brought a breath of fresh air to football in Mongolia as he made structural changes that saw the club thrive even after he left.
Rwanda Football Federation
In 2016 De jongh was appointed the technical director of Rwanda Football FederationHe worked to improve football in Rwanda from grassroot. Organizing country wide scouting for young talent thatHe also worked to improve women’s football, taking part in grass root festival and working closely with the head coach of the women’s national team. He resigned citing unprofessionalism.
Swaziland National team
In 2017 he signed as the head coach of Eswatini national football team of Swaziland.After the assassination of the vice chairman Mr. Victor Gamedze who was one of the few that supported his vision, he decided to leave the team at 124 in the ranking from 142.
Highlanders F.C
In 2019 he took over the managerial position at Highlanders F.C.. He led Highlanders F.C. to victory in the 2019 Chibuku Super Cup Final (30 November 2019) over Ngezi Platinum Stars with 16 unbeaten matches under his belt the club qualified for the CAF Confederations Cup. He also took home the coach of the month title
F.C Platinum
He joined F.C. Platinumin January 2020. His first game was against Al ahly SCin the champions league drawing 1-1 On March 2020 F.C platinum was set to play De Jongh’s former team highlanders for the super challenge. His team won with a 2-0 victory.