Maarten Stekelenburg is leaving the KNVB, the football association announced via the official channels. The 48-year-old coach was, among other things, assistant national coach to Ronald Koeman and Frank de Boer, but did not manage to get a place in the technical staff of Louis van Gaal. According to the football association, the two parties will split up ‘in mutual consultation’.
In May 2013, Stekelenburg took the Professional Football Coach course at the KNVB. He completed his internships with the first team of Ajax under De Boer and later joined the KNVB as national coach of the Under 17s. Together with Mark van Bommel, who later acted as assistant national coach with the youth team of the Dutch, the final of the European Championship. England proved too strong after penalties.
Stekelenburg then made a trip to Almere City as successor to Fred Grim, but was unable to put his stamp on the game of the Flevolanders. The club decided to fire him in 2015, after which he returned to the KNVB. Stekelenburg was appointed as national coach of the Under 19s and later became assistant to Koeman in the A-selection. Stekelenburg was also the assistant under his successor De Boer. In total, he worked for the football association for eight years over two terms.
Stekelenburg’s departure comes earlier than planned, as he still had a contract until the World Cup in Qatar next year. However, Van Gaal sees no role for him within the current coaching staff, making a break inevitable. “Because there were no vacant positions available for Stekelenburg elsewhere within the KNVB, both parties have decided to part ways,” the KNVB writes on its website.
Related
More sports news