Frank de Boer’s rapid hiring and firing at Crystal Palace highlighted wider problems within Dutch football – their coaches are being left behind
Whatever you think of Frank de Boer’s sacking by Crystal Pal-ace, his short stay as manager reminds us of the diminished state of Dutch football. A previously unthinkable gap has opened up between the Netherlands and the top football nations.
Feyenoord, Ajax and PSV have all been humiliated in Europe this season. And it’s been decades since the national team were so bad. The players who reached the 2010 World Cup final and came third in 2014 are mostly retired now and Holland’s new normal was exemplified by the 4-0 defeat by France in August.
Holland are unlikely to qualify for next year’s tournament in Russia. They didn’t make Euro 2016 either after being outfought and out-thought by the Czech Republic, Iceland and Turkey and finishing fourth in their qualifying group. The current bondscoach is Dick Advocaat, Graham Taylor’s nemesis back in 1993 but now 70 years old and only in the job because of the dearth of younger talents. With the exception of late-blooming Johan Cruyff disciple Peter Bosz, who is currently doing well at Borussia Dortmund, and Sarina Wiegman, who guided Holland’s Euro-winning women’s team this summer, the country has run out of coaching stars.
Which brings us back to De Boer. Following his failure at Inter last season, his 77-day stint at Palace has trashed his reputation as a great player who went on, as manager, to win four league titles in a row with Ajax. Yet he remains one of Holland’s best. He’s better than Ronald Koeman, now struggling at Everton, and is more highly regarded than his old Holland and Barcelona team-mate Phillip Cocu, now in charge at PSV, or Feyenoord’s Giovanni van Bronckhorst.
この記事は When Saturday Comes の November 2017 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です ? サインイン
この記事は When Saturday Comes の November 2017 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です? サインイン
Pirate Transmission
Broadcasters around the world are paying huge sums to screen football, but they will not be willing to invest if they cannot be protected.
Scandi Drama
Years before it was screened live in the UK, England’s Football League was building a cult following abroad thanks to a visionary broadcaster.
Pot Of Gold
A rare meeting between two local rivals brought FA Cup fever – and a useful financial boost – to one corner of Hertfordshire
Digital Divide
From earnest post-match punditry to being used in actual players’ matchday preparations, the virtual game is becoming increasingly blurred with reality.
Haringey Ladder
The decision to walk off in the face of abuse has shone a national spotlight on a community club with a progressive approach
Bournemouth 0 Norwich City 0
Dean Court may have received a Premier League facelift but against today’s visitors the home team fail to live up to their status, although the low-quality draw they play out is still somehow reassuring.
Room With A View
Hampden Park
Not In The Script
ARSENAL FILM
Out Of Place...
After another unsuccessful qualifying attempt Martin O’Neill is under pressure, while a poor Republic of Ireland squad is only getting weaker
Uncomfortable Truth
At the end of April Sheffield United surprised many people by re-signing Ched Evans, who, following a retrial, has now been found not guilty of the rape charge for which he spent two-and-a-half years in prison.
