Koeman takes on tough Dutch job
DUTCH former star player Ronald Koeman was on Tuesday anointed coach of the national team, given the Herculean task of restoring the country’s pride after a series of humiliating defeats.
Announcing his appointment, the Royal Dutch Football Federation (KNVB) said Koeman has “just signed a contract which ties him to Oranje with immediate effect up to and including the 2022 World Cup” in Qatar.
Koeman told a press conference at the KNVB headquarters in Zeist he was “really excited and very proud” to have fulfilled what he said was “always one of my ambitions” to be the Dutch head coach.
Nico-Jan Hoogma, currently with Heracles, was also named a top sports director and assistant for Koeman by the KNVB.
The new chance for glory for 54year-old Koeman, comes after he was sacked by Premier League team Everton in October following a string of defeats which saw the Toffees fall into the relegation zone.
In a Tweet, Koeman added he was “happy to be here and serve the country in our road to UEFA Euro 2020”.
He admitted to reporters that “expectations are high” especially after two big defeats, “but we still have good players, and we have still a lot of talent”.
Koeman takes over from Dick Advocaat, who had been one in a raft of unsuccessful appointments
Oranje since 2014.
Advocaat arrived in May for a third stint as national coach, but stepped down seven months later after failing to steer the struggling European heavyweights into the World Cup finals in Russia.
It was a massive humiliation for the football-mad Dutch, causing much soul-searching, and an added blow to national pride after the team also missed Euro 2016.
Koeman said he was “really positive about the future of the national team” but suggested he would push greater discipline and training over the coming months.
He also said there was more “tacti- for the cally” that the team can do, hinting that he may not always stick with the Dutch team’s vaunted 4-3-3 line up saying “I’m a coach who likes to change systems” adding players should be able “to handle different systems”.
“We know we don’t have the best players, but that doesn’t mean that you can not have the best team,” he added.
Koeman had already been earmarked in 2014 to replace Louis van Gaal, who left to join Manchester United after taking the Dutch squad to third place in the World Cup in Brazil.
But instead, the KNVB appointed another stalwart, Guus Hiddink, who was then replaced by Danny Blind, followed by Advocaat – all in just over three-and-a-half years. During that time the national team slumped from one disappointment to another.
Tuesday’s announcement marks Koeman’s 10th managerial post since starting his coaching career at Vitesse in 2000, having already served as Hiddink’s assistant with the Dutch national team at the 1998 World Cup. He was also an assistant coach to Van Gaal.
The younger brother of former international teammate Erwin Koeman, and the son of ex-Dutch international Martin Koeman, he made his debut at 17 playing for FC Groningen in 1980.
‘A gift from heaven’
He later transferred to Ajax, where he became known for his powerful right foot. Stints at other Dutch clubs followed including PSV Eindhoven as well as Feyenoord.
In between, he played as part of the so-called “Dream Team” at Barcelona from 1990-1995 scoring the winning goal in the 1992 Champions League final.
“Koeman’s sacking at Everton came as a gift from heaven for the KNVB,” the popular De Telegraaf said.
But a tough baptism awaits, with friendlies lined up against two teams heading to the World Cup: England on March 23 in Amsterdam, and Portugal three days later.
The Dutch will then face world champions Germany and France in the new UEFA Nations League in September and October.