New Liverpool boss Arne Slot will be 10th Dutch manager in Premier League, we rate the nine from Gullit to Ten Hag
ARNE SLOT is set to be confirmed as the new Liverpool boss, after the Reds agreed terms with Feyenoord.
But Slot not only has the daunting challenge of succeeding Jurgen Klopp – he also needs to prove that Dutch coaches can win the Premier League.
Slot would become the 10th coach from Holland to lead a club in England‘s top flight.
None of the previous nine has come close to winning the title, despite two of them – Louis van Gaal and Erik ten Hag – working for 20-time champions Manchester United.
Dutch bosses have picked up the odd FA Cup and some have done half-decent jobs for clubs at different levels of the Premier League.
But others have at best a mixed record on these shores or were unmitigated disasters.
The country that gave the world Rinus Michels, Johan Cruyff and Total Football has also produced some total flops in the Premier League.
Here’s how Dutch coaches have fared – and who’s been a hit or miss.
Ruud Gullit
Chelsea (player-manager) 1996-98, Newcastle 1998-99
Played 104: Won 41, Drew 26, Lost 37. Win rate: 39 per cent
Gullit was the Premier League’s first Dutch manager, and the first black coach to win a major trophy when he lifted the 1997 FA Cup.
A season later, with the club in second place, he was sacked controversially by chairman Ken who called him “arrogant”.
However, at Newcastle his reign was a disaster. He fell out with his best players, including Alan Shearer and was forced to resign after a home defeat to rivals Sunderland.
Verdict: Miss
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Martin Jol
Tottenham 2004-07, Fulham 2011-13
P202: W75, D51, L76. Win rate: 37 per cent
At Spurs, Jol looked like a bright choice when he won manager of the month in only his second month in charge.
Two fifth-placed finishes later, including the famous lasagne-gate when they lost a Champions League place to Arsenal on the final day of the season followed.
Jol was given his marching orders during the 2007-08 season, after a poor start.
He surfaced at Fulham four years later, and led them to a top-half finish and then 12th the following season.
Verdict: Miss
Guus Hiddink
Chelsea (interim) 2009 and 2015-16
P34: W18, D12, L4. Win rate: 53 per cent
Not many get two bites at the cherry.
But Roman Abramovich would turn to Gus Hiddink twice after sacking Luiz Felipe Scolari in 2009 and then Jose Mourinho in 2015.
In his first season, he finished third, was unlucky to exit the Champions League to Barcelona, but lifted the FA Cup – losing just once all season.
In his second, he alerted the slump under the Special One and rescued a dismal season by helping the club finish mid-table – six places above where they were when he took over.
Verdict: Hit
Rene Meulensteen
Fulham 2013-14
P13: W3, D1, L9. Win rate: 23 per cent
After starring as a first team assistant coach at Man Utd, Meulensteen wanted a job of his own.
When he was assistant at Fulham, he replaced his fellow countryman Jol in the job in 2013.
However, he didn’t even last the season – as they fell to the bottom of the league.
The Cottagers would eventually get relegated with Felix Magath, their third boss of the campaign, in charge.
Verdict: Miss
Ronald Koeman
Southampton 2014-16, Everton 2016-17
P123: W55, D27, L41. Win rate: 45 per cent
The Barcelona legend appeared to be perfect for our shores, when he bossed the Saints from 2014-16.
Despite a player exodus, they finished seventh and sixth during his reign.
It would earn Koeman the Everton job, where he spent a fortune on flops including Davy Klaassen for £24million.
His first season at the Toffees secured Europa League qualification, but he was sacked the following season with the team in the relegation zone.
Verdict: Miss
Louis van Gaal
Manchester United 2014-16
P76: W39, D19, L18. Win rate: 51 per cent
Van Gaal was United’s first ever Dutch manager, and he brought with him some hilarious moments – from forgetting defender Chris Smalling‘s name in a press conference to singing “Louis van Gaal’s army”.
He achieved fourth and fifth placed finishes, as well as winning the FA Cup.
However, his brand of football never really won over the United fans.
Interestingly, van Gaal urged Erik ten Hag to snub the United job, saying, “choose a football club and not a commercial club.”
Verdict: Miss
Dick Advocaat
Sunderland, 2015
P17: W3, D6, L8. Win rate: 18 per cent
In fairness to Advocaat and his 18 per cent win rate, he did manage to keep Sunderland up in 2015.
Appointed as interim boss, in his first game in charge he earned a point against Newcastle.
Then, he orchestrated wins over Everton and Chelsea and held Arsenal to a point.
But he blotted his copybook the following season, going back on his retirement plans to lead the Black Cats once more.
He resigned after a poor start, probably wishing he never bothered.
Verdict: Miss
Frank de Boer
Crystal Palace 2017
P4: W0, D0, L4. Win rate: 0 per cent
Brilliant footballer, no question. But, as Premier League managers go, de Boer’s reign at Crystal Palace was the shortest and worst ever.
He had signed a contract to be at Selhurst Park for three years, but lasted just 10 weeks and four league games.
In that time, the Eagles failed to score or earn any points.
He did win a League Cup tie against Ipswich, but that wasn’t enough.
Verdict: Miss
Erik ten Hag
Manchester United 2022-present
P72: W39, D12, L21. Win rate: 54 per cent
Ten Hag beat off competition from Mauricio Pochettino to succeed Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as United boss, after strong backing from interim manager Ralf Rangnick.
He enjoyed a very promising first season, leading the club to Carabao Cup triumph and back into the Champions League, with an FA Cup final defeat by neighbours City thrown in for good measure.
But this season Ten Hag has been feeling the heat. United have been hit by injuries, but the lack of progress and development of an identifiable playing style are ringing alarm bells.
The Dutchman has sounded increasingly delusional. Knocking bitter rivals Liverpool out of the FA cup in dramatic fashion and derailing their title bid surely won’t be enough to keep him in a job.
United have another FA Cup final against City to look forward to, but a lack of Champions League football will probably seal his fate.
Verdict: Miss