The Dutchman had just won City their first men’s trophy in the 2016/17 season, but left Bundoora in January to attend to his terminally ill father in Holland, who subsequently passed away weeks after his arrival.

It was then announced three months later he would be managing Eredivisie outfit PEC Zwolle for the 2017/18 season, but his tenure recently ended due to the club’s form slump.

The Dutchman is in Melbourne and met with FTBL. He reflected on what might have been if he had stayed in 2017, but has no regrets leaving the club.

“We would’ve loved to have finished the season to contend for the championship,” van’t Schip said. “We were in a finals spot, we had already won the cup and we had a very good squad at that moment, but there were things in life that were more important.

“I was away for more than seven years and I always promised my mum and dad that if anything happened to them, I’d try to come back. I heard he’d only be around for a few months.

“I’m glad I went back because not even three weeks after, he passed away. I was with dad the whole time, I was sitting by his side, we had good chats and all our family members were coming by. It was a good few weeks in the sense I could say goodbye to him and to thank him for everything.

"He’s been a massive help for me during my life and supporter as well and we always had weekly talks over Skype, he always knew the results and always knew the next game. Every time I went back to Europe, it felt like that goodbye could be the last one.

JvS alongside Aussie assistant Michael Valkanis. Source: PEC Zwolle Facebook

“In the sense that ‘Was it hard?’, no, because of the personal feeling that was in there. It was a shame I couldn’t finish the sporting side of things.”

The 55-year-old is in Melbourne until the end of the month. He was at AAMI Park watching City’s 2-1 win over Newcastle Jets on Sunday and is staying with his son Davey, who plays for NPL side Pascoe Vale and manages City’s U18 NPL side.

He added he still follows the Socceroos, A-League and NPL, but was unable to shed any light on Bruno Fornaroli’s situation, who is out of favour with current City coach Warren Joyce.

“For an outsider, it’s very difficult and I don’t want to judge what’s going on with Bruno and the coach,” he said. “I follow the A-League and I read about it, I can only say Bruno was a very important part of my team. I made him captain, I only have good memories working together with him.

“I’m a big supporter of all the teams I’ve worked with especially Melbourne because I’ve been here twice. I’ve lived here for almost six years and helped build up the club together with John Didulica and Scott Munn.

“I still have good contacts, also because my son still lives here. I’m following the NPL and A-League. I’m mainly watching their highlights and reading about what’s going on and I’m also following the Socceroos as well. I’m still involved in knowing what’s going on.”

van’t Schip’s Zwolle tenure ended in December after a squad revamp saw them dwindling in the bottom half of the table as well as a 5-0 KNVB Cup loss to AZ Alkmaar.

But the Dutchman enjoyed his first season at Zwolle, where they finished ninth on the table as well as making the cup quarter-finals.

 “It was great coming in at Zwolle after they were fighting for relegation the season before,” van’t Schip said.

“We had a really good first half of the season and we were fourth on the table after Christmas, but we dropped too much in the second half. Most teams are close in Holland except the top four and we just finished outside playoffs, which was a disappointment.

JvS coaching Zwolle

“For PEC Zwolle it was a great season, but the season which is still going now had more problems. This summer we lost four creative players and two got sold for a good price - Ryan Thomas to PSV Eindhoven and Philippe Sandler to Manchester City.

“It was unusual for Zwolle to sell players to top clubs and that says a lot about how we performed and played the season before. It was a nice first year and the club was never able to get the right replacements in and we had a 16 – 17-player turnover in the squad.

“In the end that was maybe too much for the pressure we created in the first season and we couldn’t match it this year. The results then didn’t go in our favour, the consequences were that the belief wasn’t there anymore.

“The owners then thought it was time for a change and that’s how it works in football, but I had a good time. I liked my experience in Holland and I’m looking forward to new challenges.”

van’t Schip also said he wasn’t in any rush to get a new job and would only consider an opportunity if it felt right.

“The A-League is not in my head, but I’m open to listen and hear what’s going on,” he said.

“I had a good time here in Australia and I know it’s a lovely country. I love Melbourne, I’ve seen many parts of it watching my son in the NPL. But I’m also into other adventures, maybe traveling in Asia, South America or the MLS. I’m open to things, but I must have a good feeling it fits me.

JvS coaching City

“It’s a good time to have a different look on things and I’m open to any opportunity. It may not be only a head coach role, but maybe as a head of academy.

“I’ve always loved youth development, I’ve worked in the academy of Ajax for four years doing almost all age groups and managing the equivalent of an NYL team.

“I’ve always loved trying to develop players and pushing them forward to the first-team and then it’s up to them if they can show that. To give them that pathway and help them get there, I enjoyed that and then as a head coach, I always enjoyed the pathway the boys had when they came into the first-team. Getting in, playing minutes, dealing with different levels of performances.

“It’s like a rollercoaster, but to see some players getting to a really good level of professional football and also helping them develop that I think I can help.”