Cruyff touts van Basten as Netherlands coach
(China Daily)
Updated: 2004-07-15 07:06

Former international Marco van Basten says he would not turn down an offer to become the new Netherlands coach after Johan Cruyff reportedly recommended him to the Dutch soccer association (KNVB).

Netherlands soccer great Cruyff proposed Van Basten and fellow former international John van't Schip as national coach and assistant at a meeting with the KNVB in Barcelona, where he now lives, Dutch newspaper Algemeen Dagblad reported on Tuesday.

The 39-year-old Van Basten, who, with Van't Schip, has also been to see Cruyff in Barcelona, said: "I am honoured that we are first choice, and if there will be an offer we won't say no, but that is all for the moment."I still have to wait till the KNVB contacts Ajax and us," he added.

The duo are currently in charge of the Ajax reserve team.

Dick Advocaat stepped down as Netherlands coach on July 6 after public criticism of his performance during Euro 2004 in Portugal where the Dutch made it to the semi-finals before losing to the hosts.

Cruyff, the inspiration behind the great Dutch side of the 1970s as well as a former Ajax Amsterdam player and Barcelona coach, is still revered nationally and has a big influence with the KNVB.

A spokesman for the association confirmed KNVB manager Henk Kesler and a member of the KNVB supervisory commission met Cruyff in Barcelona on Monday but did not confirm the names of any potential coaches.

"It is clear that, with a friendly against Sweden on August 18, the decision on the new coach needs to be taken in the short term," the spokesman said.

Algemeen Dagblad said Van Basten had told his friends he was very enthusiastic about the possibility of becoming national coach.

Van Basten played for Ajax and AC Milan before persistent ankle problems forced him to quit in 1995. He was a member of the Dutch team that won the 1988 European Championship, scoring with a memorable volley in the final against the Soviet Union.

Should he be appointed, Van Basten would be the second national coach from the 1988 European Championship winning team after Frank Rijkaard, who was in charge of the Dutch squad between 1998 and 2000.

Van't Schip played for Ajax, Italian club Genoa and the national side as a winger.

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