The former Melbourne Heart manager and Johan Cruyff protegé arrived in Guadalajara on Wednesday night, where Chivas fans got a first glance at their new manager.
John Van't Schip touched down in Guadalajara on Wednesday night amidst the curious eyes and camera lenses of fans and journalists alike.The new Chivas manager finally arrived on Mexican soil almost a month after he'd been named the team's new boss after a round of headhunting led by Dutch legend and Rebaño adviser Johan Cruyff.
"¡Viva Mexico! ¡Viva Chivas!" were the first words uttered by Van't Schip after emerging from the gate at Guadalajara's Miguel Hidalgo airport, to the sound of cheers from expectant fans.
Chivas finished 15th in an 18-team field last season, ending the Clausura 2012 with just 15 points and allowing a league-worst 31 goals in 17 matches. Fernando Quirarte and Ignacio Ambriz both saw the ax over the course of the season, with caretaker manager Alberto Coyote finishing the season.
Owner Jorge Vergara has allegedly budgeted Cruyff and his associates with more than $10 million to sign new players on a club riddled by injuries and plagued with a lack of experience.
The Canadian-born Van't Schip was part of the Netherlands team that won the 1988 European Championships. He debuted as a manager in 2001 with Dutch side FC Twente, before a three-year spell with Melbourne Heart that ended in early 2012.
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