Pierre van Hooijdonk back at Studio Voetbal on Sunday: ‘Important learning moment for me’ | Dutch football

“Pierre realizes that he has made a slip and has apologized for it,” says Gert-Jaap Hoekman, the new editor-in-chief of NOS Sport. “We have discussed this well and intensively with each other. I am confident that he will resume his role professionally on Sunday.”

Van Hooijdonk accused Ajax coach Maurice Steijn of being involved in “dark deals with befriended agents” during his period as coach of NAC Breda. Steijn demanded through his lawyer the next day immediate correction. Subsequently, Van Hooijdonk apologized on Wednesday and NOS Sport decided that the analyst would not join Studio Voetbal for the time being, but he will return to the table on Sunday.

Van Hooijdonk: ,,I should not have made those statements and I have apologized for that. This was an important learning moment for me. I will have to prove myself to the viewer in the near future due to the slip-up.”

That will be on Sunday evening in the broadcast of Studio Voetbal, but also next week in his analyzes at the international matches of Orange. Together with Rafael van der Vaart, he discusses the European Championship qualifiers against Greece (Thursday in Eindhoven) and Ireland (Sunday in Dublin).

The past two Sundays, on behalf of Andries Jonker (national coach Oranje Leeuwinnen) and Ron Jans (trainer without a club after leaving FC Twente) a seat at the table with presenter Sjoerd van Ramshorst and the analysts Ibrahim Afellay and Rafael van der Vaart.