Netherlands Now Lead byVan Marwijk

Feyenoord coach Bert van Marwijk will replace Marco van Basten at the Netherlands helm once UEFA EURO 2008™ finishes, having signed a contract covering the entire 2010 FIFA World Cup campaign.

Kesler delight
Royal Netherlands Football Association director of football Henk Kesler said: "We are happy to have reached an agreement. Bert was on our list from the start – he has national and international experience. Now we must concentrate on filling the remaining positions regarding the formation of the national team staff."

Feyenoord focus
"When such an opportunity comes along, you've got to grab it," added Van Marwijk, who had been under contract at Feyenoord until summer 2009. "Luckily the players and management of Feyenoord are also happy for me. For now, I want to focus completely on some crucial weeks ahead for the club." The Rotterdam side sit fourth in the Eredivisie, eleven points behind leaders PSV Eindhoven and five short of second-placed AFC Ajax.

'Huge challenge'
The 55-year-old, who won the UEFA Cup during his first spell with Feyenoord in 2002, will begin his new role on 1 July when Van Basten steps down. "This is the highest possible accolade you can achieve as a coach," Van Marwijk said. "It is a huge challenge to be able to work with the best Dutch players and it comes at the right time considering my age.

Experience
Capped once by his country as a player, Van Marwijk featured for Go Ahead Eagles, AZ Alkmaar, MVV Maastricht and Fortuna Sittard as a left-winger before taking his first coaching job in 1998 with Fortuna Sittard. After leading Feyenoord between 2000 and 2004, he went to Germany for two seasons with BV Borussia Dortmund before returning to Rotterdam at the start of this campaign.