Former Crystal Palace and Inter Milan manager Frank de Boer has been appointed as the head coach of the Netherlands national team.
The 50-year-old has agreed to take over on a two-year deal.
Netherlands Appoint Frank de Boer as New Head Coach
🔶🦁 Frank de Boer is de nieuwe bondscoach van het Nederlands elftal! #WelkomFrank https://t.co/2pGZJ1TICl
— OnsOranje (@OnsOranje) September 23, 2020
One of Three Candidates
De Boer was one of three candidates in the running for the job, according to Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf. However, the former Palace boss was essentially third choice as Frank Rijkaard and Peter Bosz, currently of Bayer Leverkusen, rejected the role.
As a result, De Boer is now set to take over until at least midway through 2022. His contract is set to expire before the 2022 World Cup, but will reportedly be reviewed after the European Championships that are scheduled to take place next summer.
The 50-year-old is likely to be in charge of the nation’s next run of fixtures, which begin on Wednesday 7 October against Mexico. He will then face trips to Bosnia & Herzegovina and Italy in the UEFA Nations League.
Aiming for Success
De Boer will be charged with continuing the revival of the Dutch national team that occurred under Ronald Koeman.
After ranking as the world’s best national side at the start of the decade, the Dutch capitulated and endured a terrible last decade. They fell to 36th in the FIFA World Rankings in 2017, their lowest ever point.
However, Koeman started to bring success back to the side. After failing to qualify for the last two major tournaments, the Dutch qualified for the European Championships that were scheduled to take place earlier this year.
As a result, De Boer is being tasked with not only emulating that success but continuing it. As well as success in the European Championships, De Boer will be expected to go one better in the UEFA Nations League; Holland finished as runners-up in the last tournament.
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