Ronald Koeman to replace Van Gaal as Netherlands head coach after World Cup

Former Barcelona coach, Ronald Koeman has signed a deal to return as Netherlands coach from 2023 after the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Koeman who left his role with the Netherlands in 2020 to take over Barcelona when they sacked Quique Setien in the summer of same year,2020, will now return for a second spell.

The Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB) added in a statement on its website: “After the upcoming World Cup, Ronald Koeman will take over from Louis van Gaal as national coach.

“His contract for this with the KNVB will run until the World Cup in 2026 and has now been signed by both parties.”

Koeman’s career has seen him take charge of Vitesse, Ajax, Benfica, PSV Eindhoven, Valencia, AZ Alkmaar, Feyenoord, Southampton, Everton, the Netherlands and Barcelona.

Trots om te delen dat ik na het WK opnieuw de rol van bondscoach van Nederland ga vervullen. Ontzettend veel zin in deze nieuwe uitdaging, op naar het bereiken van nieuwe successen samen! 🇳🇱 #onsoranje pic.twitter.com/Olk81f99qu

— Ronald Koeman (@RonaldKoeman) April 6, 2022

This will be the 12th role Koeman has taken on as a senior coach.

The 2014 FIFA World Cup bronze winner, Netherlands are currently coached by Louis Van Gaal, the former Manchester United and Barcelona coach earlier this week, revealed that he has cancer.

“In each period during my time as manager of the National Team I had to leave in the night to go to the hospital without the players finding it out until now. While thinking I was healthy. But. I am not,” he said to ‘Humberto’, a Dutch TV show.

Van Gaal took charge as Netherlands boss for a third time in August 2021 having previously led them to a third-placed finish at the 2014 World Cup.