Nigel de Jong reveals who was the leading candidate to become the new Netherlands national team manager

Nigel de Jong has revealed which four names were on the KNVB's shortlist to become the new head coach of the Netherlands national team. He did so in an interview with NOS.

After this summer's World Cup, Ronald Koeman announced that he would not extend his contract. The KNVB then had to find a new head coach.

De Jong, the director of top-level football, has now disclosed the four names on the shortlist: Pep Guardiola, Arne Slot, Xavi and Michael Reiziger. Guardiola, who left Manchester City this summer, was the first choice.

"We knew fairly quickly that he wanted to take a sabbatical," De Jong says, so attention turned elsewhere. "Slot was next on the list."

The KNVB could not reach an agreement with him either. After two talks, it became clear that Slot wanted to stay in club football. "We have to respect that. We did not talk about contract length at all. It was very much about the substance, his vision and what he is like as a coach."

That left two candidates, Xavi and Reiziger. Both held lengthy talks at the start of August before the choice fell on the Spaniard. "Because of the passion and the dominance he radiates, the experience he has as a coach, the personality to get through to the lads," De Jong explains.

"And because he embraces our football culture. He very much has the identity we want to see with the Netherlands national team."

Finally, De Jong reveals that Peter Bosz was never a candidate because he had extended his contract with PSV earlier this year. "Peter is a fantastic coach, but we looked at profile, qualities and availability. On that basis we drew up the shortlist," De Jong concludes.