SPORTS
Ronald Koeman to succeed Louis van Gaal as Netherlands coach after World Cup
Baku, April 6, AZERTAC
Ronald Koeman is to return as Netherlands coach when Louis van Gaal leaves the role after the World Cup in Qatar, according to ESPN.
Van Gaal, who has long made it clear he will leave after the World Cup later this year, said last week he was receiving treatment for an aggressive form of prostate cancer.
Koeman had a successful two-and-a-half-year spell as national team coach before leaving to join Barcelona in 2020 and while the Royal Dutch Football Association have announced Van Gaal gave him his backing.
Koeman helped Netherlands reach the Euro 2020 finals after they had missed the previous tournament and the 2018 World Cup, and also to the final of the Nations League, where they lost 1-0 to Portugal.
He left for what he described as his "dream job" at Barcelona in August 2020, having spent a hugely successful six years at the Camp Nou as a player.