MY ACCOUNT
Ronald Koeman will return to his former role as head coach of the Netherlands national team after the 2022 World Cup.
The former Barcelona boss will take over from Louis van Gaal, who revealed recently on Dutch TV show Humberto he has undergone 25 rounds of radiation treatment for prostate cancer.
The 70-year-old has continued to work and did not tell his players of his condition when the Netherlands squad got together in March for friendlies against Denmark and Germany.
However, Van Gaal will remain in charge for the tournament in Qatar, which takes place between November 21 and December 18, with Koeman resuming the role he left in 2020 after that.
The news was confirmed by the Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB) on Wednesday.
“I am looking forward to the new collaboration,” Koeman said. “A little over a year and a half ago, I certainly did not leave the Dutch national team out of dissatisfaction.
“My stay felt good, the results were good and the connection with the players was good. We will soon continue on that path, that is certain to me.”
Marianne van Leeuwen, director of professional football for the KNVB, said: “We are very happy that Ronald will return next year. During his previous term as national coach, there was great satisfaction with his work and the results.
“That is why, after internal deliberations, together with director of top-level football Nico-Jan Hoogma, I entered into discussions with Ronald and his agent Rob Jansen.”
Koeman previously spent just over two years as national team coach between 2018 and 2020, guiding the Netherlands to the final of the 2018-19 Nations League, before leaving for Barca in August 2020.
The Netherlands will face hosts Qatar, Senegal and Ecuador in Group A at the World Cup following Friday’s draw.
