‘A point to prove’: how Nicky Hayen went from Welsh Premier League to Champions League After resetting his career at Haverfordwest the Belgian coach takes his Club Brugge team to Manchester City.
The man behind the survival quest, the Belgian Nicky Hayen, was an unlikely dugout dweller in Welsh football but it proved an awakening for the club and their manager, who will lead Club Brugge against Manchester City in the Champions League on Wednesday.
It was easy to see why Haverfordwest would want such a highly qualified and experienced coach, but what attracted Hayen to second-from-bottom Haverfordwest?
“We both got a bit of grief off our families, but we actually agreed all the terms on Christmas Day,” says Haverfordwest’s owner Rob Edwards.
In 2022, Haverfordwest County finished one place above the Cymru Premier relegation zone, a fine achievement for part-timers.
