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.”