Blues legend Frans Thijssen says he’d jump at the chance to rejoin the club as a youth coach if the opportunity ever arose. Thijssen is currently working at FC Twente back in his native Holland where he is the assistant to their U21s coach Patrick Kluivert, who he expects to have a big future in football management.

The 60-year-old former midfielder has managed the likes Vitesse, Malmo, De Graapschap and Fortuna Sittard since hanging up his boots in the early nineties, and has also spent time coaching in the Middle East.

Speaking in an interview with Dutch magazine Voetbal International, Thijssen says he’d definitely be up for a return to Portman Road if the offer ever came, but only working with youngsters: “If Ipswich Town would ask me and Patrick to get things back on track a bit, then I would immediately say yes.

“But not as a head coach, not any more. That chapter is behind me. Moreover, I am more interested in the technical side. And in that respect, where can you develop players better than when they’re young?”

Meanwhile, former Blues Academy and reserves midfielder David Cawley has signed for Sligo Rovers back in his native Ireland having left the Blues last summer.

Photo: Action Images

Wallingford_Boy added 09:33 - Feb 23 That last sentence shouldn't be in italic and for me the entire story is now ruined.
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Paddy39 added 09:33 - Feb 23 GET HIM IN.
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JewellintheTown added 09:39 - Feb 23 Dish vould be greet vor der club and der fans. Vee shood get heem in. Velcome him back. Would be Movember every month!
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buryblue77 added 09:41 - Feb 23 Yes!!! Would love it if it were true, too young to remember him as a player at the club so would be great for us to have him back again. Also as he's been working back in Holland maybe he can help us with a few players he's spotted in his time there, keep up that ITFC dutch tradition.
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buryblue77 added 09:42 - Feb 23 jewellintheTown......love it!!!
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Wallingford_Boy added 09:46 - Feb 23 Well done Phil, I am now a happy little boy!!
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yorksblue added 09:46 - Feb 23 True great. Remember the goal in the 1-0 budgie bash at Crow Rd.
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PeekFreans added 09:54 - Feb 23 Very interesting.. “But not as a head coach, not any more. That chapter is behind me. Moreover, I am more interested in the technical side” Frans was one of the most technically gifted players we have ever had. The club should certainly interview him at the very least.
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ThatMuhrenCross added 09:55 - Feb 23 "If Ipswich Town would ask me and Patrick to get things back on track a bit, then I would immediately say yes." So does that mean he and Kluivert would come to the club? If so, I couldn't imagine a much better coaching team for the young players at this club. They would get them playing some lovely football.
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pennblue added 09:55 - Feb 23 This is a no brainer surely. Get him in.
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Tractorog added 09:59 - Feb 23 He could also teach tash topiary courses
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cornishnick added 10:01 - Feb 23 He's 60? Bloody hell, that make me feel old!
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Jeff_winger added 10:07 - Feb 23 This would be absolutley awesome can we have another petition to ensure clegg gets him in
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sudburyblue16 added 10:09 - Feb 23 I know cornishnick....60 years old, couldn't believe it! Still have such great memories of Frans. And if he wants to come back and coach the kids, well GO GET HIM NOW!!
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PauloJulio added 10:10 - Feb 23 Frans yes please Patrick no thankyou!
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ITFC1967 added 11:12 - Feb 23 true legend......sudburyblue16 i agree GET HIM NOW...
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Michael11 added 11:12 - Feb 23 No brainer! get him in, a person who the club adore and hopefully has good links back in holland to find us some young gems!
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ITFC_Budapest added 11:17 - Feb 23 Get him in yesterday, never mind now! someone who would love to be at the club and knows how the game should be played, make it happen Clegg!!
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CornardBlue added 11:35 - Feb 23 What a star he was, youngsters could learn so much from him. The way Frans used to glide past defenders was magic. He will never be in the Frans class but the way Lee Martin has been playing in the past few games in running at defenders there are some similarties to the great man.
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bobble added 11:41 - Feb 23 best player ever to wear a town shirt ,couldn't be 60 because i used to watch him when i was 17 so he must be about 39 really
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legoman added 12:27 - Feb 23 If you want to call him and beg him to join us his No. is 118 118 :)
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simonsays added 13:06 - Feb 23 Am surprised PJ hasn't tried to sign him as a player!
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afrodids added 13:12 - Feb 23 Like many have said sh*t that makes me feel old!!! get him in awesome player in his day. does anyone remember the Frans Thijssen footballs you used to get back in the 80's?
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Behind_Enemy_Lines added 13:31 - Feb 23 Oppo players used to hate how he nicked the ball from their very feet without the need for a tackle, my favourite player growing up !!! I even had his skills ball which was puncture proof when a little lad, the ball was a bit like what a futbol de salao ball is. Absolute LEGEND!!!!!
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King_Thijssen added 13:51 - Feb 23 The most gracious player I've ever seen in a Town shirt... please someone tell me this could actually happen. If he passed on a fraction of what he was as a player...
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