With the world’s best coaches heading to international football, Pep Guardiola could be next.
That’s at least according to Ronald de Boer, who thinks the ex-Manchester City boss should back his words.
Guardiola has talked up international management previously, eyeing Brazil, but it’s the Netherlands where he’s got his inspiration.
Guardiola was a player under the legendary Johan Cruyff at Barcelona, and De Boer sees it as an ideal fit.
Netherlands told to go for Guardiola
“It would be excellent for the Netherlands, because Pep is the ideal figure,” he said.
“He puts a lot of pressure on all the teams he has coached, advocates an attacking and dominant style of football, and doesn’t give the ball away to the opposition.
“Pep is a disciple of Cruyff. He wants to give something back to Dutch football, because as a player and coach, he became who he is today thanks to the coach and mentor Johan Cruyff.
“He says so in every interview. This is the opportunity to turn his gratitude into action.”
Guardiola stepped down as City boss at the end of the 2025/26 season and intends to take a sabbatical.
However, long-time rival Jurgen Klopp said the same, and is being tempted back by the German national team.
The Netherlands have a vacancy after Ronald Koeman’s resignation.
The Oranje impressed in the World Cup group stages but lost at the hands of Morocco in the last 32.
His football was also seen as far more boring like Louis van Gaal than the legendary Cruyff.
Slot the favourite to replace Koeman
Yet the current favourite to replace Koeman is Arne Slot.
Slot left Liverpool in the summer and is the fan and betting favourite.
His biographer, Mikos Gouka, said in an interiew: “I understand that he does not want to do anything this summer and is not joining a club.
“Admittedly, he always says that he prefers club football to international football, but I have no indications that he would never want to manage the Dutch national team.
“In fact, I understand that he would consider it an honour to become national coach.
“The question, of course, is whether this is the right phase in his career. Does he feel there is enough potential in this squad, and can he compete for trophies later on?
“And what narrative is the KNVB painting, and who could he potentially bring with him? Still, I think they stand a good chance if they approach him.
“He will be out of club football for a while, but you can see from the coaches here at the World Cup that something like that doesn’t stand in the way of a return. Men like Nagelsmann (Germany) and Tuchel (England) will soon end up at a top club again just as easily.”
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