Sparta Rotterdam is looking for a new manager after Paul Simonis was rejected, as he did not reach an agreement with VfL Wolfsburg to terminate his contract. As a result, he cannot join Het Kasteel. Sparta Rotterdam had seen Simonis as their dream candidate, but his departure from Wolfsburg is not yet officially arranged. In November last year, Simonis was already fired, but his contract still runs until mid-2027. Now, Rogier Meijer, the current assistant coach of Bayer Leverkusen, comes into view as the new top candidate. Meijer was the head coach of NEC between 2020 and 2025 and reached the cup final in 2024. Maurice Steijn had previously announced that he would not extend his expiring contract with Sparta Rotterdam, which means he will leave this summer. Technical director Gerard Nijkamp has been looking for a suitable successor since then. Last month, it was thought that Simonis would be the new coach, but that is no longer the case. Ruben den Uil, the coach of Excelsior, was also briefly considered as a possible backup for Simonis. Now, Sparta Rotterdam has to look further and hopes that Meijer is the right man for the club. The search for a new coach started after Steijn's announcement, and the club is eager to find the right person to lead them in the future. With Meijer as the new top candidate, Sparta Rotterdam is hopeful that they can find a suitable replacement for Steijn.