Stephan Van Der Heyden's Coaching Journey
Relocation is part and parcel of life in football, and few know that better than Philippe Clement's assistant Stephan Van Der Heyden. The 57-year-old arrived at Carrow Road alongside Clement last November, tasked with helping mastermind the Canaries' escape from Championship relegation danger.
It was the latest chapter in a long-running coaching partnership that began at Club Brugge in 2011 and was renewed at Rangers after six years apart. During that spell away from compatriot and close friend Clement, Van Der Heyden gained further experience as an assistant manager with FK Vardar in Macedonia, Jordan's national team, and Indian Super League side Kerala Blasters.
Adventurer at Heart: Van Der Heyden
The Belgian number two admits that travelling the world and immersing himself in different coaching environments was something he always wanted to pursue after a playing career spent solely in his homeland, Holland, and France. "I am an adventurer, I know," he said, speaking exclusively to The Pink'un from the Canaries' London training camp base.
Stephan Van Der Heyden has worked with Philippe Clement at Club Brugge, Rangers, and Norwich City. He shared that he always liked travelling, often jumping on a plane with his wife to explore new places after the season.
Norwich City: A New Challenge
After returning to Europe in 2023 and spending 18 months in Scotland with Glasgow giants Rangers prior to Clement's sacking, the Belgian pair decided to continue working together, with their next challenge eventually bringing them to Carrow Road. "Honestly, I was surprised (ending up at Norwich)," admitted Van Der Heyden.
He recalled the initial call from Philippe about talking to Norwich, noting that it was a good talk with the owners. "I do trust him. And it's also the first club I go to after Rangers," he added. The full 40-minute chat with Stephan Van Der Heyden will be available across video and audio channels from Sunday at 5pm.