Everyone has an opinion on what a good NT manager should bring to the table.
The KNVB seems to think the best coach is he who either 1) coached many years and clubs already ( Advocaat, Van Gaal) or 2) he who has won a the EK1988 or CL 1995 ( Blind, Koeman, Rijkaard, Van Basten, Van ‘t Schip).
A look at the best NT coaches (defined as reaching the last 16 of the World Cup) teaches us this:
Argentina – Lionel Scaloni – Argentinian
- Modest career as player: midfielder at Estudiantes
- Startest as assistant coach at Argentina, took over in 2018 and won the 2022 World Cup. First coaching role
Brazil – Carlo Ancelotti – Italian
- As player, legend for AC Milan. Won multiple scudettos and European Cups.
- As coach, iconic career for Milan, Real Madrid, Chelsea and won 5 CL cups
France – Didier Deschamps- French
- As player: captained France to WC1998 win
- as coach, long tenure for France, winning multiple tournaments
Germany – Julian Nagelsmann – German
- As player: career ended due to injury
- As coach: rapid rise, Hoffenheim, RB Leipzig, Bayern
Spain – Luis de La Fuente – Spanish
- As player: defender, modest career
- As coach: Youth coach for Spain U19 and U21
England – Tomas Tuchel – German
- As player: Limited career as defender due to injuries
- As coach: Came up through Augsburg, Mainz, Dortmund, PSG, Chelsea, Bayern
Portugal – Roberto Martinez – Spanish
- As player: defender, modest career
- As coach: won FA Cup with modest Wigan, Everton, Belgium
Morocco – Walid Regragui – Moroccan
- As player: modest career as defender
- As coach: Wydad Casablancam coached NT to Semis in 2022
Paraguay – Gustavo Alfaro – Argentina
- As player: Midfielder in Argentina league teams
- As coach: long club career in Argentina and former NT manager for Ecuador and Costa Rica
Canada – Jesse March – American
- As player: Decent career as midfielder in MLS
- As coach: Clubs in Canada, USA, RB Leipzig, Leeds United
Switzerland – Murat Yakin – Swiss
- As player: Central defender in Switzerland, Bundesliga and Turkish League
- As coach: Multiple clubs in Switzerland, Spartak Moscow
Belgium – Rudi Garcia – French
- As player: Midfielder in French Ligue 1
- As coach: Several French clubs, Lille, Roma, Lyon, Napoli
Colombia – Nestor Lorenzo – Argentina
- As player: Defender in Argentina, Italy, Championship, Argentina
- As coach: Assistant at Argentina U20, assistant at several South American clubs, head coach Melgar
Egypt – Hossam Hassan – Egypt
- As player: Legendary striker for Egypt
- As coach: Domestic/Egyptian success coach
Norway – Stale Solbakken – Norwegian
- As player: midfielder in Norwegian league
- As coach: Succesful in Norway and Denmark, short stint at Wolves.
So 7 out of the 15 NTs here are from a different country.
Only Ancelotti and Deschamps have had a massive international playing career.
Hossam Hassan has legendary status in his own country as striker. All other coaches had mediocre or worse playing careers.
The Spanish and Argentinian head coaches got promoted from a youth rep team ( like Michael Reiziger at the KNVB).
None of the coaches were individual stars (Van Basten, Koeman, Cruyff), The two world class players were both midfielders, known for their grit and tactical nous ( Van Bommel for instance).
I hope this will open up the discussion a bit.
For me, coaches like Van Bommel, Pastoor, Bosz or Pascal Jansen should be in the mix for our NT manager role.
If Pep Guardiola decides he doesn’t want to do it, of course….
But it looks like it will be Arne Slot. Liverpool FC has already confirmed Arne will get to keep his pay out in the next season, even if he manages the NT. This would be different if he would have selected an EPL club to work for….
Agree Andrew! It's funny, I've been a dedicated viewer of almost the entire tournament, but work demands have forced me…