Koeman targets Euro 2020 with Dutch

Ronald Koeman is targeting Euro 2020 qualification and hopes to change the Dutch national side’s mentality after signing a four-and-ahalf-year deal as manager.

The former Everton and Southampton boss takes charge of a team who have failed to qualify for this year’s World Cup.

The Dutch football federation – the KNVB – announced on its website that Koeman had signed a contract that runs through to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

“I am very happy, I am really looking forward to it and I think it is a great honour that I will be the national coach of the Dutch national team,” the 54-yearold said at a press conference.

“The expectations are always high. You want to achieve something with each other, unfortunately that has not been achieved in recent years.

“I do not see it as an easy job, but I do have faith in it. I see a lot of future. One of the reasons we have become less is that we can do more in training and train differently. We can do more tactically and I have seen a lot of talent since I have been back in the country for a few months.”

His first assignment is a meeting with England in a friendly international on 23 March before facing Portugal three days later.

Koeman has experience of managing in the Netherlands, England, Spain and Portugal.