Despite a convincing 6-0 win over Latvia on Sunday, ad.nl reports Hiddink won’t be at the reins when Holland resume Euro2016 qualifying in March.

  • By Spencer Steevensz
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hiddinoranAfter a dismal start to his second campaign as head coach, Guus Hiddink announced that if his side failed to beat Latvia in their third Euro2016 qualifying match, he would step down. It wasn’t a surprising remark, as the team that took third place in the World Cup a few months beforehand was losing to the Czech Republic and Iceland, while also struggling to come from behind to beat Kazakhstan.

There was lots of speculation leading up to Latvia game, and the friendly against Mexico half a week before, where Mexico was able to get revenge over the team that, they claim, unfairly knocked them out of the World Cup with a 2-3 win. Confidence was not high.

The players rallied around their wounded coach, who was being called too old, too out-of-date, and may fans were asking him to hang up his coaching boots. Team captain Robin Van Persie, and Vice Captain Arjen Robben promised a win, noting they owed that, at least, to the former national hero.

Oranje came out of the gates swinging on Sunday, and recorded an impressive 6-0 win over Latvia. They could have scored 10, and the defense still looks weak, but without much pressure from the Latvians, they strolled to an easy victory. One would have thought Hiddink would have been beaming, it was just the win he needed.

He failed to confirm he would keep his role, and KNVB director Bert Van Oostveen was also coy on the matter. Now, Dutch newspaper Algemeen Dagblad is reporting that he will not lead the Dutch team to France in two years – and that the KNVB are merely working out a transition plan to find his successor, and what his role within the KNVB may be, likely, an advisor to head coach (now assistant coach) Danny Blind.




Spencer Steevensz (104 Posts)

I'm a digital/social marketer out of Chicago. I grew up loving Dutch football - total football is the only way to play. I support PSV in the Eredivisie, and whatever team has the most Dutch guys on it in any other league. Hup Holland Hup!