Football club Kryvbas from Kryvyi Rih has officially confirmed the termination of cooperation with head coach Patrick van Leeuwen. The Dutch specialist left his position after a season and a half of work with the team, which is currently experiencing a serious sporting crisis and occupies the last place in the Ukrainian Premier League standings.
Results of the Dutch Specialist's Work at the Club
The Dutch manager took charge of the red-and-whites in June 2025. During his tenure, van Leeuwen led the team in 41 official matches on the domestic scene. Of these, 37 matches took place in the Ukrainian Premier League, and another four games were played in the Ukrainian Cup. In the national championship under his leadership, the team secured 14 victories, complemented by three successful cup matches. Previously in Ukrainian football, the specialist worked with Zorya Luhansk and Shakhtar Donetsk, where he gained significant coaching experience.
Team Standings and Reasons for Separation
The decision to terminate the contract followed a series of unsuccessful results in the current UPL season. At the time of the coach's resignation, Kryvbas sits at the very bottom of the league table, having secured only one victory, two draws, and four defeats in seven matches played (with three additional games involving the Kryvyi Rih team postponed to later dates). Rumors regarding van Leeuwen's potential departure circulated in sports media for several days, with reports indicating that the parties had reached an agreement on financial matters. The club's management did not disclose the official reasons for terminating the agreement.
Potential Personnel Changes and Future Prospects
Amid the resignation of the Dutch coach, sports circles are actively discussing the potential appointment of a new manager. According to information circulating in the media, prominent Ukrainian specialist Oleksandr Petrakov could become the new head coach of the Kryvyi Rih club. The management of Kryvbas will need to stabilize the situation in the shortest possible time and find a way out of the protracted crisis to improve the team's standing in the second half of the season.
