Newcastle Jets are pleased to announce former Dutch international, Kew Jaliens, has been appointed Newcastle Jets and Northern NSW Football Youth Technical Director.
Jaliens, who previously captained the Jets, making 36 appearances as a player, assumes the remodelled role following Craig Deans’ appointment to the Head Coach position.
“I love being involved in football in this region and the Jets organisation,” Jaliens said.
“I have spent quite a lot of time overseas in Holland and England looking into top-flight youth programs, philosophies and club set-ups.
“I’ve collected a lot of knowledge over the years which can be implemented here and corroborate with the landscape in Newcastle.
“The stronger the region, the stronger the Jets will be. A major motivator for me is to try and get more local players into the Jets program and more players into the national teams.
“Northern is a very rich area where football can thrive once more.”
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Northern NSW Football CEO David Eland said having a Youth Technical Director work across both organisations, makes completes sense and ensures the member federation and club work together to provide the best possible environment for talented young footballers in the region.
“This appointment is reflective of the excellent relationship which exists between Newcastle Jets and Northern NSW Football,” Eland said.
“We’ll work together to ensure the best young players in clubs and the Jets Academy receive the coaching and opportunities required to reach their potential and represent the Newcastle Jets in the A-League and W-League.”
Northern NSW Football Head of Football Development, Peter Haynes concurs with Eland.
“This appointment will further enhance the alignment between NNSWF and the Newcastle Jets in the Player Development space,” Haynes said.
“Moving forward with a shared technical director will ensure talented players, Regional Zones and Premier Clubs from right across Northern NSW to benefit from clear and unified direction aimed at ultimately producing more professional players from our region.
“This new alignment with the Newcastle Jets will facilitate further integration of talented player programs including players selected into Talent Support Program being embedded into Jets Academy squads throughout the year.
“We are already producing excellent talent throughout the region with a number of talented players identified for the Junior and Youth Matildas. The appointment of a Youth Technical Director, particularly of Kew’s standing within the game will truly enhance the opportunity for talented girls, particularly in the lead up to the FIFA World Cup in 2023.”
According to Coach Deans, Jaliens, who enjoyed a distinguished career in the Dutch Eredivisie, where he won the Championship with AZ Alkmaar in 2009, not only brings experience but technical understanding of the game to the role.
“From the moment he arrived at the Club as a player, he brought a presence and a lot of football knowledge,” Deans said.
“He’s played at the highest level. He’s played in a World Cup and has plenty of experience in the game, not just in Australia but overseas as well.
“He’s a calm character with a good technical understanding for the game which you need for this position.
“He relates well to current players and the Academy kids. It’s nice we can promote people who have been involved with the Club for quite a while. It’s a big job and a very important part of everything I want to do and we need good people working in the Academy and Kew is the first appointment and a deserved appointment.”
After 16 seasons in the Dutch top-flight, the central defender spent three seasons at Polish heavyweights Wisla Krakow, for whom he played in the UEFA Champions League.
Jaliens also represented the Netherlands at the 2006 FIFA World Cup and 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Moving to Australia in 2013 to link with the Jets, he spent three years in the A-League where he finished his professional career with Melbourne City in 2015.
