Van Basten appointed national soccer coach

29 July 2004

AMSTERDAM — Dutch football association KNVB has reached a definite deal to appoint Marco van Basten and John van ‘t Schip as coach and assistant coach of the Dutch national soccer team respectively.

The former internationals will be given the task of ensuring the Dutch squad qualifies for the 2006 World Cup in Germany, RTL News reported on Thursday. Both men will be officially presented as the new coaches on Monday.

They replace Dick Advocaat who resigned after the recent Euro 2004 championship following sharp criticism at the team’s sluggish start to the tournament. He resigned, despite the fact the team recovered to make the semi-finals only to be defeated 1-2 by the host nation Portugal.

The other members of the coaching staff will also be unveiled at a press conference on Monday. But RTL said Rob Witschge is tipped to be appointed as assistant and Stanley Menzo will gain the job of goalkeeper trainer.

Dutch soccer guru Johan Cruijff had previously urged the KNVB to appoint Van Basten and Van ‘t Schip as the new national coaches. He made the recommendations during a chat with KNVB director Henk Kesler in Barcelona earlier this month.

Cruijff was also named as a KNVB adviser in the lead up to the World Cup and it is expected that he will take a prominent role behind the scenes.

Van Basten, 39, is assistant trainer of Ajax 2 under Van ‘t Schip, 40. Ajax 2 is the youth team of the Amsterdam-based Ajax. Van Basten played for Ajax and AC Milan before retiring due to injury in 1995. He was also part of Holland’s European Championship winning side in 1988.

Van ‘t Schip was a member of the Dutch national team 1986-1995. He played 41 international matches, while Van Basten played 58. The KNVB had previously reached agreement with Ajax over the appointment of the two men.

Subject: Dutch news