The Dutch national has coached AFC Leopards, Kolongolo and Nairobi Stars.
Jan Koops is ranked as one of the most successful AFC Leopards tactician. The gaffer magic pulled the club from position 13 in 2009 to second place in KPL.
Former AFC Jaan Koops has been living in Kenya for the past 40 plus years. Now in his early 80s, the celebrated coach lived in a single room in Mumias Town before a family in Busia offered to accommodate him.
The ex-Ingwe coach came to Kenya in 1980. Speaking on NTV, the coach said that he fell in love with the country.
Jan lived in a single room in Mumias, Kakamega county. He recalled never losing a match in Mumias with AFC Leopards.
This is what made him move to Mumias. Koops joined a struggling AFC Leopards in 2011 and led them to a respectable third finish in the 2011/12 season just three points shy of eventual winners Tusker and two points less than their arch-rivals Gor Mahia.
Despite this success, Koops who had taken over from Nick Yakhama, was unceremoniously shown the door at the start of the 2012/13 season.
The club still owes him more than Ksh2 million.
Jan Koops Finds love in Kenya
In a 2020 interview, Koops told the Daily Nation that he had no plans of going back to his motherland as he had found love in Kenya.
“I am so happy we met and she has been here for me even during the tough times,” Koops told the daily.
He went on to add that his two sons were grown-ups and working in the Netherlands.
“My two sons are grown ups and working back in the Netherlands. I’m sustaining myself here with the little pension I receive from the Netherlands and Germany governments”.
In the same interview, he said his girlfriend worked abroad and they planned to settle in another town in Western Kenya once she was back.
“We can settle down either in Kakamega, Busia, or Bungoma. I love this part of the country and would like to spend the rest of my life here,” Koops shared.
Relocating to Busia
In late 2021, the Dutchman was again making news after a Busia-based Ingwe fan offered to accommodate him as part of her family in appreciation for the role he played in rescuing the club from imminent relegation.
The family appealed to the Football Kenya Federation to help trace Koops’ family in the Netherlands so that they are aware of his whereabouts.