By Maarten Wijffels
Koeman was already national coach of Orange between 2018 and 2020, but he did not yet experience a final tournament with the Dutch national team. He left Orange in 2020 to become the coach of his dream club FC Barcelona. Since his resignation from Barca in October, Koeman has been available. In his documentary series Forca Koeman the coach already said that the lack of a final tournament on his resume is a loss.
Van Gaal himself already said that he thinks Koeman is his dream successor. “Very sensible”, said the current national coach about the fact that the KNVB was talking to Koeman. “I told them that myself, they consulted me. It is not all that difficult. I am the only coach available with experience. That now applies to Ronald Koeman. That is exactly the same. Now I am not saying it for myself, but now I am saying it for Ronald Koeman. More than rightly. Would he be a good successor? That I think, yes.”
It was recently announced that Van Gaal suffers from prostate cancer. However, Van Gaal will continue to do the World Cup in November ‘normally’, according to the agreements. The KNVB also does not think in terms of a ‘plan-B just in case’, according to Zeist. It was clear, however, that Koeman would already be appointed as a successor for after Van Gaal’s period. That is now the case.