Holland ‘confirm former Barcelona boss Ronald Koeman as their next manager’

Former Barcelona boss Ronald Koeman has been linked with a return to management after being dismissed by the Catalans in October 2021. 

Koeman was sacked by Barcelona after overseeing their worst start to a season since the 1987-88 campaign but could return to the international scene.

The 59-year-old is said to be negotiating terms to take over as the manager of the Netherlands national side once Louis van Gaal steps down after the World Cup. 

While promoting a new documentary about his life a Dutch television show, Van Gaal revealed he was battling an ‘aggressive’ form of prostate cancer and said that he had already undergone treatment on 25 occasions.    

However, the 70-year-old said he will lead the Netherlands at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar before standing down as the national head coach. 

As a result, Koeman will officially take charge of the Netherlands from January 1, 2023- according to De Telegraaf.

 Louis van Gaal announced on Sunday evening that he is battling ‘aggressive’ prostate cancer

Speaking about his decision to step back from the Netherlands job, Van Gaal said:  ‘I have now had four periods as national coach, I went to the hospital in the evening or at night in every period. Without the players knowing.

‘They still see those ruddy cheeks of mine, and think ‘What a healthy pear that is.’ Well, of course, I am not.

‘I don’t think you tell the people you work with like that, because that might influence their choices or decisiveness or whatever. I thought they shouldn’t know.’

Meanwhile, Koeman was sacked by Barcelona for guiding them to their worst start to a season since the 1987-88 campaign.

The Catalans were floundering in ninth – almost closer to the relegation zone than to the top of the table – when Koeman was dismissed. 

 Koeman was sacked by Barca after overseeing their worst start to a season since 1987-88

Koeman was fired on the flight back from a 1-0 defeat to Rayo Vallecano – a result that made history for all the wrong reasons. 

Barcelona had not lost against the small Madrid-based club for 19 years when Van Gaal was in charge. 

The 1-0 defeat could have ended very differently had Memphis Depay not missed a penalty and Sergino Dest not blazed over from five yards out.

But that had been the story of Barcelona’s season up until that point. They had scored just one goal away from home and had not registered a win on the road.