January 5 – In a surprise appointment, Nigel de Jong will become the new director of football at the Dutch FA (KNVB), succeeding Jan Hoogsma.
“It is a very good prospect to get started in this position, in which I want to help improve Dutch top football, among men and women,” said De Jong. “The Netherlands has always had the ambition to be among the best in the world. The current talent and the history justify that ambition.”
After his retirement, De Jong enrolled in UEFA’s master’s programme, with the ambition of remaining in the industry. The Dutch FA also held talks with Earnie Stewart (who preferred to remain in his role at U.S. Soccer in the build-up to the 2026 World Cup in the US, Mexico and Canada) and Mo Allach of RKC.
De Jong will be responsible for streamlining football development as well as for the women’s national team that will participate in the 2023 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. The Dutch FA have indicated that head coach Ronald Koeman and director of football policy Aloys Wijnkerwill be among those to guide De Jong in his new role.
“Working in top football requires specific knowledge and experience,” said De Jong. “In my years as a player I gained that at various clubs at home and abroad and I can now use it. It has been 17 years since I left the Netherlands, but of course I have always followed Dutch football. And I feel like I’ve always been a part of it.”
The Dutchman finished his career at Qatari club Al Shahania. As a football pundit, he spends his time in Qatar, England and the Netherlands.
De Jong debuted as a 17-year-old for Ajax and two years later he featured for the Dutch national team. he had spells at Hamburg, Manchester City, AC Milan, Galatasaray, LA Galaxy and Mainz 05. He however gained notoriety for his hard tackling and play with Holland during the 2010 World Cup final against Spain. Four years later, he won bronze at the World Cup in Brazil. He featured 81 times for the Netherlands.
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