Chavi Hernandez appointed coach of the Netherlands national team, replacing Ronald Koeman

Former Spanish international midfielder Hernandez has been appointed head coach of the Dutch national football team, succeeding Ronald Koeman, who resigned after the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America, according to an announcement by the Royal Dutch Football Association on Wednesday.

The 46-year-old manager, who led Barcelona to win the Spanish league title in 2023, has signed a contract extending until the 2030 World Cup, which will be hosted by Spain, Portugal, and Morocco, along with some matches in Latin America.

The “maestro” of midfield, who played for Barcelona and won the 2010 World Cup with Spain, has not held any coaching position since leaving Camp Nou in 2024.

“As someone who was trained in Barcelona’s academy, deeply influenced by Johan Cruyff, Rinus Michels, and others, I feel a special connection to Dutch football,” he said.

He added, “It can be said that I am a son of Dutch football. Other great coaches, especially Louis van Gaal, under whose leadership I played my first match for Barcelona, and Frank Rijkaard, also played a significant role in shaping my identity as both a player and a coach.”