Ronald Koeman has officially returned to the service of the KNVB. On Monday he will be presented as the successor to Louis van Gaal.
In April, the KNVB reached an agreement with Koeman about a return as Orange national coach. His contract up to and including the 2026 World Cup took effect on 1 January. He will be officially presented in Zeist on January 23, with his assistants Erwin Koeman, Sipke Hulshoff and Patrick Lodewijks also being presented.
Koeman was also national coach between February 2018 and the summer of 2020. Under him, the Dutch national team started after a dark period. Before the arrival of Koeman, the Orange missed out on both the 2016 European Championship and the 2018 World Cup. Under his leadership, the Netherlands eventually reached the final of the Nations League and qualified for the European Championship, the tournament that was postponed due to the corona pandemic. Ultimately, Koeman chose to leave for his dream club Barcelona.
Blind’s praise for Van Gaal
In related news, former national coach Louis van Gaal has contacted Daley Blind after his transfer to Bayern Munich was completed. The two worked together at Orange and Manchester United.
Blind can make his debut for Bayern next Friday, when the leader resumes the competition with a game against RB Leipzig. Towards that game, Blind spoke again to introduce himself to the fans. The defender said, “My choice for a top club like Bayern needs no explanation. This is the top level, if you only look at how many awards they have won in the last few years. To be part of such a big club is something I’m very proud of.”
Blind is the umpteenth Dutchman who has committed himself to Bayern. The defender joins Matthijs de Ligt, Ryan Gravenberch and Noussair Mazraoui. And with Van Gaal the club had a Dutch coach in the recent past. “He has had a big impact on my career. He let me make my debut for the Orange, I made my debut under him at the World Cup. Then he took me to Manchester United. I am thankful for what he has done for me. I hope I paid him back with my on-field skills. After I signed I received a message from him, he wished me all the best,” Blind looked back via the club channel.
