The Royal Dutch Football Association has confirmed that Ronald Koeman will replace former Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal as the Netherlands national team manager following this year's World Cup.
The KNVB have announced that the former Southampton and Barcelona boss, who was previously in charge of the Netherlands national team between February 2018 and August 2020, will take charge from next year. It means that his first major tournament in charge, should they qualify, will be the European Championship in Germany in 2024.
Koeman has agreed a long-term contract that will see him remain in charge up until the 2026 World Cup. The decision comes just days after Van Gaal revealed that he is battling prostate cancer.
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Appearing on Dutch TV show 'Humberto' on Sunday evening, Van Gaal was talking about his new film - 'LOUIS' - in which his cancer is addressed. He confirmed that his form of cancer is aggressive and that he has already undergone 25 rounds of treatment.
Van Gaal said: "In each period during my time as manager of the national team, I had to leave in the night to go to the hospital without the players finding it out until now, while thinking I was healthy. But I am not.
"I didn't want to tell it to my players because it could have influenced their performances. I have a lot of discipline and willpower.
"I can do the job because I like it. I like to work with this squad. This is a present for me at a late age, this is how I see it."
Ahead of replacing Van Gaal and taking charge of his country for a second time, Koeman, in a statement, said: "I am looking forward to the new collaboration. A little over a year and a half ago, I certainly did not leave the Dutch national team out of dissatisfaction.
"My stay felt good, the results were good and the click with the internationals was good. We will soon continue on that path. That is certain for me."
He also posted on Twitter, saying: "Proud to share I will be the manager of the Netherlands' national team again after the WC. I am very much looking forward, let's reach new successes together!"
Marianne van Leeuwen, director of professional football KNVB, added: "We are very happy that Ronald will return next year. During his previous ‘term’ as national coach, there was great satisfaction with his work and the results.
"That is why, after internal deliberations, I entered into discussions with Ronald and his agent Rob Jansen, together with director of top football Nico-Jan Hoogma."
Van Gaal, however, will remain in charge for this year's World Cup in Qatar. His side will open the tournament, facing Senegal in the first game in Group A on Monday, November 21.
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