Brian Tevreden

General Manager Suriname national teams

Brian Tevreden knows football from the inside. He played as a forward and midfielder in the Netherlands and Greece, then chose the work that drives him most: helping players, staff and teams grow.

At the Ajax academy he guided young talent on and off the pitch. At Reading FC he became Director of Football within two months, and the club reached the play-off final at Wembley. Today, as General Manager, he is building Natio: from a federation without enough training balls to a team that reached the World Cup play-off.

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Portret van Brian Tevreden in pak
116
Professional matches as forward/midfielder
2017
Reading FC reach the play-offs
191→126
Suriname FIFA ranking
+65 places
2026
Natio in the World Cup play-off

As seen in

The story

Where it began

Brian Tevreden with Henk ten Cate and Clarence Seedorf
With Henk ten Cate and Clarence Seedorf

Brian Humphrey Tevreden was born in Amsterdam on 26 November 1981. His mother raised four children on her own. She started out in the Netherlands as a chambermaid and worked her way up to manager. From her he learned what hard work means.

“My mother started in the Netherlands as a chambermaid and ended up as a manager.”Brian Tevreden in VICE Sports, 2017 · translated

As a forward and midfielder he played in the Netherlands and Greece: FC Volendam, FC Emmen, Panthrakikos, Fostiras and FC Dordrecht. After his playing career he chose the work that moved him most: helping young players grow.

At the Ajax academy he was known for his commitment. He drove out to see parents in the evenings and sometimes took players into his own home when things were hard at theirs. That personal approach runs through everything he has done since.

He calls Suriname his motherland. He always wanted to give something back. As General Manager of Natio, he does that every day.

Career

From player to general manager

2002 – today
  1. 2002–2004FC VolendamDebut in the Eredivisie
  2. 2004–2006FC EmmenRegular starter in the Eerste Divisie
  3. 2006–2008Panthrakikos & FostirasA spell in Greek football
  4. 2008–2009FC DordrechtThe final chapter as a player
  5. 2011Ajax – academyCoach and mentor to young talent at De Toekomst
  6. 2016Reading FCHead of International Football and Development, Director of Football within two months
  7. 2018KSV RoeselareCEO in Belgium
  8. 2021Natio SurinameTechnical advisor to the Suriname Football Association
  9. 2024Natio SurinameGeneral Manager of the Suriname national teams

England · 2016–2018

The Reading FC story

Reading wanted to rebuild its academy and brought Tevreden over from Ajax in 2016. Within a year he was running the entire football operation, from academy to first team.

FEB 2016

The academy

He started as Head of International Football and Development. He built up the academy and connected scouting, academy and first team.

APR 2016

Director of Football

When Director of Football Nick Hammond left for West Bromwich Albion, Tevreden took over. After three weeks as interim, the role became his permanently.

2016–17

Jaap Stam and the play-offs

He brought in Jaap Stam as head coach along with eleven new players. Reading went from relegation worries to the Premier League promotion play-offs and played the final at Wembley.

Suriname · Natio

A country that believed

When Tevreden started as technical advisor in 2021, there were not even enough decent training balls. In 2024 he became General Manager. Step by step he turned Natio into a professional team, together with head coach Stanley Menzo and with players from Suriname and the diaspora.

Brian Tevreden on the sideline, with the Surinamese flag in the stands
On the sideline with Natio
Brian Tevreden in the dugout during an international match
In the dugout at an international
MomentWhat happened
QualifyingAway win over El Salvador, late equalisers against Guatemala and Panama. Home match against El Salvador sold out within 30 minutes.
Final group tableSecond with 9 points, behind Panama. A place in the intercontinental play-off.
March 2026Clarence Seedorf and Patrick Kluivert join as advisors.
26 March 2026Play-off in Monterrey against Bolivia. Liam van Gelderen scores, Natio lose narrowly 2–1 and finish two matches short of the World Cup.

“Nobody gave Suriname a chance. But we have to do it now. It is our time.”Sky Sports, November 2025

“Total unity is our twelfth man.”Concacaf, March 2026 · translated

In pictures

Speaker

Leadership, talent and belief

Brian Tevreden addressing a group
Speaking during a session
Brian Tevreden during a workshop with football executives
Workshop with executives

Brian Tevreden shares how to build a team when nobody gives you a chance. His talks cover leadership, culture change and developing talent, with examples from Ajax, the English Championship and Natio.

What my mother taught me

From chambermaid to manager: perseverance, taking responsibility and chasing your dreams.

Building from zero

How Natio went from too few training balls to the World Cup play-off, and what that says about change in any organisation.

Growing talent

Lessons from the Ajax youth system and the Reading academy: personal attention, structure and trust.

Leading through resistance

Introducing new ideas when not everyone is on board yet, and getting two cultures to work together.

KeynoteWorkshopPanel discussionDutch & English

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In the media

Interviews & articles

Bookings & contact

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info@briantevreden.com