According to Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf. The Dutch FA apparently asked the advice of Cruyff and that's what he advised. Cue hundreds of comments by posters ready to write off Van Basten before he's even started. I also predict Co Adriaanse commenting: "It's a disgrace for the football management profession". I rather like the idea of Van Basten as a coach. I'd have preferred him teaming up with a more experienced man though.
I very much doubt that if offered the job Van Basten would accept. He had to be basically begged to take the coaching position at Ajax. He likes to keep a low profile. Taking the Dutch job would be very unlike Van Basten. Plus, he has absolutely no expierence being a top level manager.
Here's link no. 1 for those who can read Dutch: http://www.vi.nl/vi/show/id=62802/contentid=60866/sc=275f6d
It's not on the KNVB site. According to De Telegraaf, they are now trying to convince Cruyff to take on the job. During the EC, Cruyff said that he declined the job earlier, because he wasn't given total controll. What if they offered him just that, what other excuse will Cruyff be able to give? But it seems he advised them to get MvB instead... By the way, at least Rijkaard had some experience with the NT while assisting Hiddink.
Cruyff just doesn't want to do it I reckon. Probably because his beloved wife doesn't want him to do it. There's talk now of Cruyff serving as a consultant to Van Basten - could be a decent set-up.
More news: Van Basten and Van t Schip were interviewed yesterday by Dutch telly. All smiles they were. They felt 'honoured and delighted' that Cruyff wanted them as bondscoaches, and that they were 'ready for it'. Like I said yesterday, it's a done deal. Meanwhile the KNVB has admitted that the duo are their first choice. Cruyff has refused to take on the job as official advisor to the KNVB (I guess he prefers to be enigmatic).
I can't see Cruyff ever wanting to take the post - it would tarnish his image as a glorious coach: with Ajax he won the Cup Winner's Cup in 1987, with Barcelona he won it all in 1992. If Cruyff takes the post then he would virtually have to guarantee a World Cup or at least the Euro in 2006, otherwise he won't have the importance in the media and KNVB that he does now. Right now, Cruyff can say whatever he wants and nobody will question it, because his record as a player and coach is pretty much outstanding and he doesnt have very many, if any, blemishes. As soon as he doesnt win with the KNVB or any other team, people will question what he says. Right now, he's in the perfect position of being able to say whatever he wants without having to put his money where his mouth is. If I were him, I would most likely do the same...
I think it's all done to Cruyff's wife Danny. She's the reason he didn't go to the world cup in 1978, and I think we've got her to blame for him not taking on the bondscoach position.
Can you elaborate for those of us uninitiated? Heard lots of reasons/rumors Cruijff didn’t play in ’78, but none involved his wife.
Well the official reason for Cruyff not going in 78 was a sponsorship conflict, of course. But in several biographies people who know the couple state that it was Danny who convinced Cruyff not to go. In 1974, the German media had been going to great lengths to put the Dutch players into disrepute (the infamous pool incident) and Cruyff was of course their main target. Danny was worried about something like that happening again. Furthermore, she apparently can't stand being away from her husband for longer than a couple of days. All rather sweet of course but not exactly helpful to Dutch football.
Now this is interesting. My local newspaper published Van Basten quotes about the Dutch NT today (these were things said by Van Basten before he came into the picture as bondscoach). And I quote: "Some of our players behave like movie stars. If I were in charge of selection procedures they wouldn't be in my squad". "We have world class strikers but defensively we're rubbish. The quality of this Oranje is hugely overestimated". "I take my inspiration as a manager from Arrigo Sacchi and Johan Cruyff". "Holland are at their best when they dominate play, keep possession and attack. I do not like to see this generation of footballers playing so cowardly, that's not what Dutch football is about". Í'm growing increasingly fond of San Marco.
Bad news for Ajax :-( They better make it worthwhile. And of course, as usual... we have backstabber Johan Cruyff to thank for it. It's about time Ajax start handing out stadiumbans to the likes of Cruyff, Lerby, Sjaak Swart, etc. Bunch of leeches.
You must have been in Portugal when that came out Johan (the only way to explain how you just heard that now, and me way over in Canada had already heard some of those quotes). Although I must say the translation that I heard was not as negaitve as some of those sound. Anyways, it was when Marco said those things that I really started hoping he'd take control soon. That said, a little more experience from the probable new coaching staff would still be a good thing.
No, it was a literal translation of quotes that were published in my local newspaper just the other week. They're all 'old' but official quotes taken from published interviews. The paper published them to underscore what his attitude towards Dutch football in general and the national team in particular is.
van't schip for anyone that cares is canadian,born in fort st john british columbia.his cousin joe nuiwendyk is the same joe nuiwendyk who plays for the toronto maple leafs in the national hockey league.van't schip applyed for the canadian national job as well.
it's official, presentation monday http://www.uefa.com/competitions/WorldCup/news/Kind=1/newsId=210893.html
In case it hasnt been posted elsewhere yet, John van den Brom has been named the new Ajax youth coach with Fred Grim as his assistant. Less famous coaches than before, but perhaps that is good thing in the end...
At the time, I agreed with Spartak on this one. I'd be curious to know what you think now that VB has accepted the job.
Most Dutch footy fans are very excited about the appointment. That said, it is a bit worrying that the Dutch FA have announced that the next target is the 2008 Euro champs, and that it won't be such a problem if they don't qualify for the WC 2006. They probably want to take the pressure of all the new youngsters in the squad.
It's a better choice than picking R.Koeman for sure. However the style the C.Adrianse composed last season was really impressive while I am not really sure how will Marco arrange his team. Anyway, Oranja Boven!