September 24 – Frank de Boer has succeeded Ronald Koeman as Oranje boss and will have the task of leading the Netherlands to the next World Cup.
The former defender signed a two-year contract with the KNVB that runs through to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and replaces Koeman, who departed for FC Barcelona last month.
De Boer guided Ajax to a record four consecutive Dutch league titles as coach between 2011 and 2014 with a generation of players that included Jan Vertonghen, Christian Eriksen, Toby Alderweireld, Daley Blind and Davy Klaassen, but his foreign adventures at Inter Milan, Crystal Palace and Atlanta United all proved to be disappointing.
He lasted just 85 days in Italy and 10 weeks in London. De Boer won the domestic cup with Atlanta before leaving in July. Henk Ten Cate, Frank Rijkaard and Peter Bosz were among the other names linked to the Holland vacancy, but in the end the KNVB settled for De Boer, a safe but contested choice.
Next month, De Boer will lead the Netherlands in a friendly against Mexico in the Dutch capital before his team take on Bosnia and Italy in two Nations League fixtures away from home. Oranje’s new coach will also take charge of the team at the European Championship next year.
The Netherlands were absent from the 2016 finals in France after they failed to qualify. They also missed out on the World Cup in Russia.
Contact the writer of this story, Samindra Kunti, at moc.l1714138038labto1714138038ofdlr1714138038owedi1714138038sni@o1714138038fni1714138038