Coach DNA
Playing style
low-volume
Style consistency
More consistent than 51% of multi-club coaches
Club record
League results at each club since 2016, next to the same club under other coaches.
FC Zurich
Jul 2025 – Dec 2025 · 19 matches
1.26 points per game in Super League (19 matches).
FC Zurich with other coaches, ±3 years: 1.33 (138 matches, 8 coaches).
Line-up Elo: −19 below the league average under him, +19 under the others.
Most used
- Y. Brecher1,710' · Elo 1,622
- S. Zuber1,619' · Elo 1,586
- L. Kamberi1,468' · Elo 1,766
- M. Gómez1,339' · Elo 2,041
- M. Phaëton1,286' · Elo 1,656
- C. Tsawa1,243' · Elo 1,641
- N. Palacio1,109' · Elo 1,629
- P. Keny1,087' · Elo 1,732
- J. Markelo950' · Elo 1,771
- L. Comenencia872' · Elo 1,751
Jong Ajax
Aug 2019 – May 2021 · 67 matches
1.40 points per game in Eerste Divisie (67 matches).
Jong Ajax with other coaches, ±3 years: 1.58 (227 matches, 5 coaches).
Line-up Elo: +95 above the league average under him, +104 under the others.
Most used
- Y. Regeer3,479' · Elo 2,145
- K. Taylor3,443' · Elo 2,305
- N. Kasanwirjo3,278' · Elo 1,752
- E. Llansana2,711' · Elo 2,000
- K. Scherpen2,610' · Elo 2,250
- Q. Timber2,523' · Elo 2,205
- J. Timber2,462' · Elo 2,653
- D. Kotarski2,340' · Elo 2,054
- J. Ekkelenkamp2,314' · Elo 2,050
- N. Ünüvar2,290' · Elo 1,656
NAC Breda
Aug 2018 – Mar 2019 · 26 matches
0.65 points per game in Eredivisie (26 matches).
NAC Breda with other coaches, ±3 years: 0.98 (44 matches, 3 coaches).
Line-up Elo: −139 below the league average under him, −110 under the others.
Most used
- M. Koch2,250' · Elo 1,743
- B. van Leer2,070' · Elo 1,223
- M. Rosheuvel2,052' · Elo 1,280
- M. te Vrede1,949' · Elo 1,416
- Unknown (38703)1,676' · Elo 1,207
- M. El Allouchi1,440' · Elo 1,714
- K. Mets1,347' · Elo 1,835
- A. Verschueren1,297' · Elo 1,689
- A. Kali1,094' · Elo 1,215
- F. Sporkslede1,001' · Elo 1,372
Excelsior
Aug 2016 – May 2018 · 68 matches
1.13 points per game in Eredivisie (68 matches).
Excelsior with other coaches, ±3 years: 0.97 (34 matches, 3 coaches).
Line-up Elo: −142 below the league average under him, −171 under the others.
Most used
- J. Mattheij5,632' · Elo 1,569
- K. Karami5,323' · Elo 1,245
- R. Koolwijk4,776' · Elo 1,080
- Hicham Faik4,482' · Elo 1,544
- Stanley Elbers3,928' · Elo 1,188
- M. van Duinen3,734' · Elo 1,267
- Luigi Maud Bruins3,724' · Elo 1,328
- Milan Massop3,362' · Elo 1,383
- Jeffry Fortes3,128' · Elo 1,433
- J. de Wijs2,952' · Elo 1,714
Players under Mitchell van der Gaag
Total Elo change of his own players in his matches.
Rose most
in 23 matches · Jong Ajax
- N. Kasanwirjo+363
in 37 matches · Jong Ajax
- T. Douglas+355
in 31 matches · Jong Ajax
- B. Brobbey+351
in 24 matches · Jong Ajax
- Milan Massop+341
in 41 matches · Excelsior
Fell most
- B. van Leer−131
in 23 matches · NAC Breda
- R. Lundqvist−127
in 9 matches · NAC Breda
- Y. Brecher−114
in 19 matches · FC Zurich
- L. Kamberi−86
in 19 matches · FC Zurich
- M. Rodić−78
in 8 matches · FC Zurich
Opponents
Their Elo change in matches against his teams (at least 3 meetings).
Favourite opponents
−48R. Mühren1389
in 5 matches · Cambuur
−46B. Rienstra1379
in 4 matches · Heerenveen
−45in 3 matches · Cambuur
−41L. Görtler1837
in 5 matches · FC ST. Gallen
−37D. Sambissa1667
in 3 matches · Cambuur
Nemeses
+135M. van de Ven2353
in 4 matches · FC Volendam
+109D. Werker1479
in 4 matches · Roda
+103M. Kaars1866
in 3 matches · FC Volendam
+103Niels Fleuren1033
in 4 matches · FC OSS
+100T. Meißner1324
in 3 matches · Willem II
Coaches
Their Elo change in matches against him (at least 3 meetings).
Favourite coaches
- −22
H. de Jong1914
in 5 matches · Cambuur
- −16
Henk Fraser1747
in 4 matches · Vitesse
- −10
Alex Pastoor1620
in 3 matches · Sparta Rotterdam
- −3
Ernest Faber1542
in 4 matches · Groningen
- −2
J. van den Brom2097
in 6 matches · AZ Alkmaar
Nemesis coaches
- +98
Wim Jonk1620
in 4 matches · FC Volendam
- +63
E. ten Hag2294
in 6 matches · Ajax
- +61
Maurice Steijn1824
in 5 matches · NAC Breda
- +48
Michel Vonk1396
in 3 matches · Jong AZ
- +44
Peter Hyballa1591
in 3 matches · NAC Breda
Playing style
How Mitchell van der Gaag's teams play vs league-season peers (2016+)
Descriptive — how a coach's teams play, not how good they are.
Career average
One shape blending all 3 clubs (2016+).
The baseline — each polygon on the right shows how one club's style deviates from this.
+0.18style consistency across 3 clubs
More consistent than 51% of multi-club coaches.
A high score means the same playing style travels from club to club — well above the random-coach baseline (-0.01), so it's a signature, not the squads.
Excelsior68 matches
Jong Ajax37 matches
NAC Breda26 matches