Koeman contacted back in January
The association announced that the change of coach had nothing to do with the illness. Rather, the association wanted to settle the successor early because the changing of the guard is due at an unusual time, namely at the end of the calendar year.
“Top coaches have been under contract for a long time,” said Marianne van Leeuwen, KNVB director of professional football. “We therefore already decided in mid-January to contact Ronald, who was available. Then we agreed in a couple of talks.”
Koeman last coach of FC Barcelona
Van Gaal believes the choice for Koeman is one “very sensible decision” – and justifies this in his very personal way: “A year ago I was the only available candidate with the necessary qualifications, now it’s Ronald Koeman.” The Dutch tabloid De Telegraaf quoted him as saying on Wednesday.
In fact, Koeman is the logical successor. Because his first term of office from February 2018 to mid-2020 was successful. In the UEFA Nations League, the Netherlands overtook France and Germany to finish second behind Portugal. They also qualified for the European Championship, albeit behind Germany.
Koeman’s difficult task at FC Barcelona
In August 2020, Koeman left the association “not out of dissatisfaction”, as he now emphasized in the KNVB report. Rather, it was the reputation of FC Barcelona. But the big Spanish club was in a desolate state when Koeman took over, especially financially, but also in terms of sport. Predecessor Quique Setién was dismissed, among other things, because his team only finished runners-up and went down 8-2 in the Champions League against Bayern Munich.
Koeman ended his first season with the Copa del Rey title. Third place in the championship and the round of 16 in the Champions League were well below FC Barcelona’s usual standards, but given the circumstances they were justifiable. Before the 2021/22 season, the financial situation was so ruinous that the club had to let club icon Lionel Messi go.