Nigel de Jong, the Dutch Football Association’s sporting director, has revealed details of the Netherlands’ attempts to appoint Pep Guardiola as head coach, confirming that the former Manchester City manager was their first choice before the federation turned to other options and eventually appointed Xavi Hernandez. ⭐
The Dutch FA was looking for a coach with the experience and personality required to lead the national team into its next phase, placing Guardiola at the top of its list of candidates. However, the Spanish manager’s desire to take a break from coaching prevented the move from happening.
💥 Guardiola Was the Netherlands’ First Choice
Nigel de Jong confirmed that the Dutch FA was strongly interested in appointing Pep Guardiola, with the Spanish coach identified as the federation’s first choice for the national team position.
De Jong said in comments reported by Tribal Football: “We realized early on that Guardiola wanted to take a break, and then Arne Slot was our second choice.”
The comments indicate that Guardiola’s decision was not related to a disagreement over financial terms or the length of the contract. Instead, it was driven by the manager’s own decision to take time away from the pressures of daily football management.
🧘♂️ Why Did Guardiola Reject the Netherlands?
Guardiola ended his spell with Manchester City at the end of last season after spending many years in charge of the English club, winning numerous trophies and establishing one of the most successful periods in the club’s history.
Following the end of his Manchester City experience, the Spanish manager decided to take a period of rest, something the Dutch FA was aware of during its efforts to convince him to take charge of the national team.
The Netherlands were not the only national team interested in Guardiola, as the coach was also linked with the Italy job, but he did not accept the opportunity to take charge during the recent period.
Guardiola therefore preferred to step away from coaching temporarily rather than immediately return to work after years of competing at the highest level.
🔥 Arne Slot Was the Second Choice
After the attempt to appoint Guardiola failed, the Dutch FA considered Arne Slot as its second option for the national team position.
However, Slot, who previously worked with Liverpool, preferred to continue his career at club level rather than move into international management with the Netherlands at this stage.
De Jong explained that the federation respected the Dutch coach’s decision and noted that discussions never reached the stage of negotiating the length of a contract.
“We have to respect his decision, and we never spoke to him about the duration of the contract. The conversation was entirely about his vision as a coach and his ideas,” De Jong said.
The comments show that the Dutch FA was determined to appoint a coach who matched its sporting vision, even if negotiations with the first two candidates did not result in an agreement.
🇳🇱 Netherlands Appoint Xavi
After the attempts to sign Guardiola and Slot failed, the Dutch FA turned to Xavi Hernandez, who became the final choice to lead the national team.
The Spanish coach signed a contract until 2030, beginning a new chapter in his coaching career by taking charge of one of Europe’s most prominent national teams.
De Jong explained why Xavi was selected, saying: “We signed Xavi because of his great passion and leadership qualities, as well as the coaching experience he gained through his previous experiences.”
He added: “He also has the right personality to communicate with players, and he embodies the identity we want to see with the Netherlands.”
🏆 Xavi Faces a Major Challenge with the Netherlands
Xavi will face a difficult task in his new position, particularly because the Netherlands possess a talented group of players and are always expected to compete for major international honors.
The appointment represents an important change in the Dutch national team’s project, especially after the federation failed to secure its first-choice candidate Guardiola and then its second option Slot.
Although Guardiola was the Dutch FA’s dream appointment, the Spanish manager’s decision to step away from coaching opened the door for Xavi to begin a new international chapter.
The big question now is whether Xavi can prove that the Dutch FA made the right decision and lead the Netherlands into contention for major trophies. 🇳🇱🏆🔥
