Now KNVB have two great, legitimate options… Pep and Slot (three, if you count Bosz). But they will extend Koeman instead
I don't think Koeman will stay. Should we start a petition to ask him to move on? If he win the World Cup, he can stay another 2 years to win the Euro and deservedly so. The rumour for Slot is that he will go to Milan. The way the season ends, 2 points in the last 4 games when Champion Leagues spot is at stake seems to tell me that the team gave up on him, hence they decided to let him go even though they gets the last spot. Pep has been successful at club level and he managed 3 big clubs, Barca, Bayern and Man City (where the last club he stayed long and my thinking is that ManCity upper management left him alone compare to Barca and Bayern where one bad result led to many noises from the top; hence he has more freedom and happier). Managing the national team is quite different, he won't have time to build relationship with players as at the club. I do not know how he will fare but the excitement just to have him outweighs the risk. I still feel that he will take time off then wait for de la Fuente to retire/step down to take over. I'd be happy if Pep agrees to take over from Koeman.
AC Milan (who were rumored to have considered Slot) just hired Amorim as their next manager. Hmm… Slot to Oranje, let’s make this happen!
I would go for Guardiola. If Spain fails to win the World Cup, de la Fuente's reign may end and for sure Guardiola will be courted. For once KNVB just goes for non Dutch coach in Guardiola. It does not guarantee title but it has a good chance and better football to watch if he agrees. Koeman and Nigel De Jong should adopt what Japanese and Korean managers/federation did, apologizing to their fans then resign immediately. It is not just the result, it is the way the team played and lost the game. Deciding to play like they did then no matter who they brought or did not brought (Frimpong for example). Koeman could have sub in Malen, Memphis, Lang ...someone who can take PK rather Q. Timber, De Roon. Maybe it did not matter because all they would do was to defend, no chance to have a shot at goal to warm up for PK anyway.
46123 Alderweireld argues for Van Bommel: 'He gave me the best feeling ever' Toby Alderweireld would like to see Mark van Bommel as the national coach of Belgium. The former defender worked with the Dutch coach for two seasons at Antwerp FC. 'He knows what it's like to play at big tournaments and go far.' On Monday, it came out that Van Bommel is an important candidate to succeed Rudi Garcia. The Frenchman left after the World Cup as national coach of Belgium. In the eyes of Alderweireld, Van Bommel would fit in perfectly with the RBFA. 'Then of course people start to think: they have a good relationship. But I have a few examples,' says the former defender of clubs such as Ajax and Tottenham Hotspur in the HLN Football podcast. 'Every game we knew how we were going to put pressure,' Alderweireld explains. 'How we were going to build up, what our game plan was. And always with a positive feeling. Never backwards. Realistic, not like: we're just going to put pressure and do something. In addition, he also dared to intervene. In a cup match against Club Brugge, we were 2-0 down and he took Keita and another player off.' Rudi-ke Presenter Yancko Beekman then jokes that Van Bommel dares to do 'a Rudi-ke'. The resigned national coach caused a stir at the World Cup with a number of remarkable substitutions. 'Yes, but not after eighty minutes', Alderweireld immediately adds. 'Just after twenty minutes. That has to happen and that's what we're going to do.' 'From second one, he gave me the best feeling ever,' says the former international. 'His calmness, his people management. He knows what it's like to play at big tournaments and go far, knows what is required. If you look at the combination of tactical and people management, he is really at the top.'
46739 VI: Schreuder-ball in the Champions League: 'Would be a stunt for NEC' NEC did good business by keeping Olympiakos at 0-0 in Greece. Club watcher Sander Janssen saw that the Nijmegen team held out, without coach Dick Schreuder disowning his own philosophy.