Overview
- Vitesse announced on Friday, July 10, 2026, that Willem van der Linden will become algemeen directeur on 17 August and has signed an open-ended contract to fill the club's top executive post.
- The club said the move follows Ben Mansvelder stepping back in April because of a burn-out and that there is no clear date for his return, which prompted the decision to appoint a permanent statutory director.
- Van der Linden returns to Arnhem after serving as Vitesse's commercial director from 2014 to 2018 and later becoming algemeen directeur at RKC Waalwijk in 2024, a record the supervisory board cited as key to its choice.
- Chair Claudia Lap said the Raad van Commissarissen selected Van der Linden for his track record of delivering results and for his ability to provide steady leadership after an interim period led by Joost de Wit.
- The club framed the hire as a step toward stabilizing finances and sporting plans after recent licence and takeover problems, and the appointment leaves governance, stakeholder confidence, and the timeline for Mansvelder's return as items to watch next.