"I want us to be an assertive team - brave, intense and committed." Marink Reedijk's first message after taking charge of Hibernian was clear enough on style, but the broader theme from the club was just as important. Hibs are not pitching this as a reset. They are backing Reedijk to build on what is already there, and to do it quickly with Dundee United next on the calendar.
Reedijk, quoted by skysports.com, also made it plain that he is not arriving to rip everything up. He said: "There is quality and potential in the squad, and good work has already been done. My first job is to get to know the players, build on those foundations and make sure we are ready for Dundee United."
That sounds like a practical opening message because the table does not leave much room for a slow start. Hibernian are 10th in the Scottish Premiership and have two wins from seven league games. Reedijk will travel with the team to La Manga on Saturday for a training camp, and his first match is the Premiership trip to Dundee United on October 10.
Reedijk's first priorities
The first Reedijk story is really about urgency without the noise of an overhaul. Hibs have had a poor start by their own standards, but neither the manager nor the club has framed this as a rescue mission. His public line has been about intensity, purpose and getting buy-in from a squad he believes already has enough quality to improve.
That is also where his recent background matters. Reedijk arrives from SK Beveren after leading them to an unbeaten title-winning season in Belgium's second tier. It gives Hibs a manager with fresh momentum, though his first comments were much more about the players in front of him than any reputation he has brought from Belgium.
There is not much time to ease into the job. Dundee United sit eighth with eight points from seven games, so Reedijk's opener is hardly a free hit, even if it is not an immediate meeting with one of the division's strongest sides. Dundee United have also won two of their last five, which makes this a decent early check on whether Hibs can look more organised and more aggressive straight away.
The club's message on continuity
The other part of the appointment is the line coming from the boardroom. Hibernian have been explicit that this is not a change in football direction. Malky Mackay, quoted by skysports.com, said: "We began this process with a clear idea of the type of team we want to continue to build and the qualities we wanted from our next Manager. Marink's football philosophy, his work with players and his leadership style are strongly aligned with that."
Mackay went even further on the continuity point. He said: "This is not about changing the direction of our football strategy. It is about continuing to evolve it, and we believe Marink is an excellent fit to take the team forward."
That matters for how Reedijk will be judged over the next few weeks. The club is not selling a revolution, so the early test is whether he can make the current group look more like the version Hibs believe they should already be. When a sporting director talks about alignment that directly, it becomes hard to hide behind the idea of a long bedding-in period.
Ian Gordon added the same note of backing from above. The executive chairman said Reedijk was the "standout candidate" and added: "Marink has our backing, and we will continue to invest in the team to give him the best possible platform to succeed."
That combination, public continuity from the club and immediate demands from the fixture list, gives the appointment its shape. Reedijk replaces David Gray eight days after the previous manager's exit, travels to La Manga with the squad on Saturday, and opens away to Dundee United on October 10.
FAQ
What has Marink Reedijk said he wants from Hibernian straight away?
Reedijk said he wants Hibernian to be an assertive team that is brave, intense and committed. He also said there is already quality and potential in the squad, so his first priority is getting to know the players, building on existing foundations and making sure they are ready for Dundee United.
Why are Hibernian presenting Marink Reedijk as a continuation appointment?
Hibernian's public line is that Reedijk fits the club's existing football plan rather than changing it. Malky Mackay said his football philosophy, work with players and leadership style are strongly aligned with what the club wants, and the club explicitly said the appointment is about continuing to evolve its strategy.
What is Reedijk walking into at Hibernian this season?
He takes over a side that is 10th in the Scottish Premiership with two wins from seven games. Reedijk is also moving quickly into preparation, with a training camp in La Manga and then a first league match away to Dundee United on October 10.
What did Marink Reedijk achieve before joining Hibernian?
Reedijk arrived from SK Beveren after leading them to an unbeaten title-winning season in Belgium's second tier. Hibernian can point to that recent success, but his first comments at the club were focused less on a grand reset and more on immediate work with the current squad.
Written by Sam Whitfield with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →
