Will Jordi help? The surprising candidate to coach the Netherlands national team
After Arne Slot rejected an offer and other candidates were ruled out, the federation turned to Jordi Cruyff's friend, Roberto Martinez, who could be the first foreigner in the role since 1978.
Is Roberto Martinez on his way to coach another national team? According to a report in 'De Telegraaf', the Dutch Football Association has approached the Spanish coach who finished his tenure with the Portugal national team after the World Cup. Ronald Koeman left the Netherlands national team following a disappointing elimination in the round of 32, and since then, the 'natural' Dutch candidates have fallen away one after another for various reasons.
The federation considered Arne Slot, Erik ten Hag, and Peter Bosz, but all three will not be taking the job. Slot, for example, announced that he is waiting for an offer from a club. The names of Michael Reiziger, the youth team coach, and 75-year-old Louis van Gaal also emerged. With the former, a single conversation took place without follow-up. The latter did not receive an approach at all, despite declaring his interest in the position.
The next name on the list is Martinez, and technical director Nigel de Jong even met with him in Malaga. Martinez is known to be a close friend of Jordi Cruyff and is considered a follower of the Dutch football philosophy of his father, Johan. The 53-year-old Martinez managed Swansea, Wigan, and Everton before being appointed in 2016 as coach of the Belgium national team, and later managing Portugal. It is worth noting that the last foreign coach to manage the Netherlands national team was the Austrian Ernst Happel in 1978.
