DE HAAN CHAMPIONS ROBSON FOR DUTCH POST by Nic Evans

NEWCASTLE UNITED manager Bobby Robson has been touted as the perfect man to take over the Dutch national coaching role by Heerenveen boss Foppe de Haan.

A number of names have been thrown into the ring with regards taking over the Dutch job after their failure to qualify for the 2002 World Cup saw former Barcelona coach Louis van Gaal vacate the position.

Rangers director of football Dick Advocaat turned down approaches from the Dutch Football Association (KNVB), whilst Ruud Guillit and Johan Cruyff have unsurprisingly been strongly linked.

Now it seems that de Haan for one, wants to turn to Robson - the man who has inspired an incredible turn-around at St James' Park.

Having arrived with the club second bottom of The Premiership with one point from 18, Newcastle finished the 1999-2000 season comfortably out of the relegation zone.

Since then, the club have gone from strength to strength and currently find themselves second top of the league and on course for a Champions League place, something only the most optimistic of fans thought possible at the beginning of the season.

De Haan said: "Robson is a big name in the world of soccer, he’s accustomed to work with top players, he can raise the team spirit and also breed a good atmosphere in the team.

"Therefore a Dutch coach will not be good enough as there are always one or more details against him. If the KNVB will pick a foreign coach they can start with a clean ship."

Having coached extensively on the European scene, including a spell in Holland with PSV Eindhoven, Robson is seen as ideal by de Haan - who not only coaches Heerenveen, but is a member of the board of coaches (CBV) whilst the Dutch side's chairman, Riemer van de Velde is on the KNVB board and the duo have some influence in his home country

-- Anonymous, January 21, 2002

Answers

Stevo, can't they just give Gullit the job?

-- Anonymous, January 21, 2002

We'll never let him go. If England couldn't do it I don't see what chance Holland have.

-- Anonymous, January 21, 2002

What about a swap? YBR for the entire Dutch squad?

-- Anonymous, January 21, 2002

Dougal- Gullit is regarded as a candidate but isn't helped by the fact none of his former team-mates from the '88 seem to think he's suitable for the job. Can't imagine why that is?

Other candidates: Willem van Hanegam, Guus Hiddink, Martin Jol, Frank Rijkaard, Martin Jol (current RKC Waalwijk coach) and Marco van Basten (no experience as a coach whatsoever but, after a long break, wants to return to the game and still massively respected). Johan Cruijff would get it only he seems to have retired, and loathes the Dutch FA, who don't trust him (c/w Brian Clough).

-- Anonymous, January 21, 2002

No chance. Huge Gullit would be perfect - a good match for the other massive egos in the Dutch squad.

-- Anonymous, January 21, 2002

There's a nice irony there in that Van Gaal vacated the position. He's the man who took over from Robson at Barca.

I'm sure Robson will be honoured to hear this and would probably relish the challenge if he weren't already managing his boyhood heroes, a job he has wanted all his life. It's remarkable to be even considered for such a job at his age. Shows the massive regard he commands in World football.

-- Anonymous, January 21, 2002

Well, I ask you, would you take anything serious by someone named Foppe ??

Great offer, but at the wrong time for Bobby I suspect

-- Anonymous, January 21, 2002

Ive been reading this board for a few month now and I wouldn't usually comment on shit rumour like these but my brother lives in Ponteland (flash basa) and says he saw Sir BR in a well known local Brasserie last Thurs evening. He had some young black lad with him he didn't recognise and YBR was joking about how the lad shouldnt order chips in a swish restaurant.

Anyways from what he overheard on a couple or three trips to the gents they kept talking about Alan this and Alan that, but he was horrified when he heard SBR say he was quitting at the end of the season. My bro sometimes pulls my leg but he looked dead serious on this one.

I can undersyand SBR wanting to leave on a high but if we dont win the cup or league it will be a major let down for a lot of us.

Stay Bobby!

Arthur (the MEdomsley Mag)

-- Anonymous, January 22, 2002

Haway Med mag.Surely the dutch are looking for a younger manager as they have just failed to reach the world cup and have to start again.

-- Anonymous, January 22, 2002

Welcome on, Arthur. Bobby said on telly last week that he would decide next season when to retire and I don't think he'd lie to us. I hope he wouldn't lie to us.

Kev, with the squad the Dutch have, it's not that they need to start again. They need someone who can manage.

-- Anonymous, January 22, 2002

Aye good point Dougal.

-- Anonymous, January 22, 2002

So what was all that about with van Basten complaining that it wasn't right that they weren't considering Gullit for the job? That was via James Richardson's reading of the Italian newspapers on Channel 4 mind...

-- Anonymous, January 22, 2002

I saw that, Softie although that source of all football intelligence, World Soccer, says that Gullit is hideously unpopular in Holland. Stevo, is this true? BTW, I remember Gullit interviewing Rikjaard during Euro 2000 and they transparently detested each other.

-- Anonymous, January 22, 2002

Gullit is certainly a controversial figure. The loathing generally comes from those who’ve worked with him, or follow football closely. When he took over at SJP many warned me he was an arrogant sod who could be difficult to work with. Many still haven’t forgotten, nor forgiven, Gullit for walking out of the national team just prior to the world cup (USA’94?) after a protracted ‘will he/won’t he play’ where Ruud seemed to put his ego above everything else.

The Cruijff family never hid their alarm when he hitched up with Estelle, whilst his ex-wives are frequently in the gossip magazines complaining about his lack of interest in their kids etc. That said Ruud was deemed still popular enough to host a television talk-show programme recently (though I only could stomach 5 mins of him and Craig David moaning about the difficulties being rich and famous).

I hadn’t caught any of Van Basten’s comments, but few who’ve played with him seem to have a good word to say about the man, which hasn’t helped his chances of becoming Dutch coach. That said Dutch football is INCREDIBLY catty with players, and ex-players regularly bitching like mad about each other.

-- Anonymous, January 22, 2002