r/NetherlandsWorldCup

Xavi Hernández has been the new national coach of the Dutch national team since last week. The Spanish football icon grew up with Dutch football and therefore seems an ideal candidate to achieve success. Johan Derksen had a striking opinion about the appointment of the brand new national coach.

Even though the summer break of Today Inside is still in full swing, Johan Derksen is not sitting still. On Monday a new episode of his podcast Greetings from Grolloo was released, which he presents together with Henk Kuipers. This time the conversation was about the appointment of Xavi as the new national coach of the Dutch national team.

Although the 77-year-old Derksen believes that the former top footballer does not yet have a great career as a coach, he is still somewhat positive. 'You cannot say that he does not have a good CV, but he is a big name. What speaks for him is that he grew up within the Cruijff philosophy. He would fit in in the Netherlands.'

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'I think that's an indictment'
Although he is somewhat positive about the appointment of the former footballer, he is also critical of the KNVB's choice. 'I still find it strange to take a foreigner,' Derksen begins.

'I think it is a kind of indictment against the KNVB's own trainer training. I also think it is an indictment against all Dutch trainers who are passed over,' he continues. Moreover, he has critical words for Nigel de Jong, the KNVB's director of top football. 'I find it strange that he and Clarence Seedorf jointly determine who will become national coach of the Netherlands,' Derksen continues.

A frustrated boy
The guest from Today Inside finds Seedorf's involvement particularly strange. 'I know he is very vengeful towards all kinds of people in football who have thwarted him. He is a very frustrated boy who hates a lot of people and also keeps them out.'

'He had a fantastic international career, but he never showed it in the Dutch national team. So I find it strange that that boy is allowed to help determine, with all his grudges, who the new national coach is,' says Derksen in the podcast.

'I would like to give him the benefit of the doubt'
Derksen says that he has nothing against Xavi or his appointment, but he does find it strange. 'I would like to give him the benefit of the doubt. I find it unworkable that you bring a Spanish-speaking boy to the Netherlands, who does not speak English and cannot communicate... As a coach, that is your greatest weapon.'

Derksen immediately opens the attack on Seedorf and De Jong again. 'Those two in Zeist had certain ideas and wanted to put Traveler forward. They noticed that no one in the Netherlands understood this and then they found themselves in a tight spot. Then they started looking for a big name to keep public opinion quiet.'