The former national team players Marco van Basten and John van't Schip are new head coach and assistant coach of the Dutch national football team, Dutch media reported on Thursday.
Dutch Football Association KNVB reached a definite deal to appoint Marco van Basten and John van't Schip on Wednesday night and they will be officially presented on Monday, said Radio Netherlands.
The former internationals have signed contracts that run until the 2008 European championship to be held in Austria and Switzerland, and they will be given the task of ensuring the Dutch squad qualifies for the 2006 World Cup in Germany.
John van't Schip, 40, and Marco van Basten, 39, are currently trainer and assistant trainer of Amsterdam's football club Ajax' B-team.
They replace Dick Advocaat who resigned after the recent Euro 2004 championship following sharp criticism at the team's sluggish start to the tournament. He resigned, despite the fact the team recovered to make the semi-finals only to be defeated 1-2 by the host nation Portugal.
The other members of the coaching staff will also be unveiled at a press conference on Monday. But Dutch RTL News said Rob Witschge is tipped to be appointed as assistant and Stanley Menzo will gain the job of goalkeeper trainer.
Dutch soccer guru Johan Cruyff had previously urged the KNVB to appoint Van Basten and Van't Schip as the new national coaches. He made the recommendations during a chat with KNVB director Henk Kesler in Barcelona earlier this month.
Cruiyff was also named as a KNVB adviser in the lead up to the World Cup and it is expected that he will take a prominent role behind the scenes.
Van Basten played for Ajax and AC Milan before retiring due to injury in 1995. He was also part of Holland's European Championship winning side in 1988.
Van't Schip was a member of the Dutch national team 1986-1995. He played 41 international matches, while Van Basten played 58. The KNVB had previously reached agreement with Ajax over the appointment of the two men.
(Xinhua News Agency July 30, 2004)
