Netherlands appoint Ronald Koeman as manager

Former Everton manager Ronald Koeman has been named as the new Netherlands coach.

The appointment of the ex-Dutch international was announced by the country’s football association (KNVB) on Tuesday.

In a statement, the KNVB said Koeman had signed a contract “up to and including the 2022 World Cup,” and he was due to speak at a news conference later on Tuesday.

Nico-Jan Hoogma, general manager of Heracles Almelo and a former defender, has been brought in as Koeman’s assistant.

Koeman, sacked by Everton in October, replaces Dick Advocaat, who stepped down last year.

On Twitter, he wrote: “I am proud to finally announce that I am the new manager of the Dutch national team.

“Happy to be here and serve the country on our road to Euro 2020!”

It is his 10th managerial post after spells in charge of Vitesse Arnhem, Ajax, Benfica, PSV Eindhoven, Valencia, AZ Alkmaar, Feyenoord, Southampton and Everton.

Koeman won Euro 88 as a Netherlands player, part of a team that also included Ruud Gullit, Frank Rijkaard and Marco van Basten.

But he faces a challenge to lift morale in the national side, who failed to reach either Euro 2016 or this summer’s World Cup.