Yet another World Cup will pass with the Netherlands remaining empty handed, as they succumbed to a penalty shootout defeat against Morocco in the round of 32 this time around.
Ronald Koeman came under intense scrutiny following his choice to abandon the 4-3-3 that saw them top the group in favour of a back five, with Tijjani Reijnders dropped for Nathan Ake.
He defiantly claimed he was right to do so, despite allowing the Atlas Lions to have 70% possession and riding their luck on multiple occasions.
Since their third-place finish in 2014, Oranje have failed to progress beyond the quarter-finals at the World Cup, failing to qualify in 2018, falling at the last eight in 2014 and now a round of 32 exit.
With Koeman opting to step down following their elimination, here are our top five contenders to be the next Netherlands manager.
Next Netherlands Manager Contenders
Arne Slot
Arne Slot is out of work at the moment following his departure from Liverpool at the beginning of the summer.
Despite his underwhelming second term at the Merseyside club, the Dutchman still has plenty of pedigree.
With Premier League, Eredivisie and KNVB Cup titles to his name, Slot is a winner, and his progressive style of football can be easy on the eye with aggressive pressing and modern possession play.
He may want to spend some time away from the game following his last job, but the opportunity to manage your nation isn't one that comes up regularly.
Robin van Persie
One of the most iconic Netherlands players of all time -- and their second highest goalscorer -- Robin van Persie is another manager currently without a club.
Scorer of the iconic diving header against Spain, the former Feyenoord boss is certainly a figure the fans could unite behind despite his relative inexperience in the dugout.
A second-placed Eredivisie finish is his best achievement thus far, so he may need to rebuild his reputation at club level before taking the Dutch job, though his emphasis on swashbuckling attacking football may align with the ideologies of their FA following Koeman's defensive style coming unstuck.
Ruud van Nistelrooy
Ruud van Nistelrooy joined the Netherlands staff as an assistant coach shortly before the 2026 World Cup -- and also had a stint as assistant under Guus Hiddink after the 2014 tournament -- so if the Dutch FA are looking for some continuity despite a fresh face in charge, he may be the man for the job.
The former Leicester manager has a mixed reputation at club level.
A winner of the KNVB Cup and Johan Cruyff Shield with PSV and three wins and a draw in four games as interim manager of Manchester United raised his stock, before a dismal stint at the Foxes when they were relegated from the Premier League.
If the higher-ups can look past the season at Leicester, which was seemingly a poisoned chalice anyway, they could secure a manager with plenty of time on his side and a point to prove.
Michael Reiziger
Dutch fans will recognise Michael Reiziger as a 74-cap full-back who is currently in charge of the U21 side and has been since 2023.
Reiziger guided Jong Ajax to the Eerste Divisie title in 2017-18, though they were ineligible for promotion to the top flight due to being a reserve team. He also won his sole match in charge of the first team when he stepped in as interim coach following the dismissal of Marcel Keizer.
He would be a strong choice to replace Koeman due to his knowledge of the inner workings of the Dutch FA, and a close relationship with the youth teams as the current crop of stars such as Virgil van Dijk and Memphis Depay come to the end of their international careers.
Oliver Glasner
Should the Netherlands decide to go down the route of appointing a foreign manager, Oliver Glasner should be right at the top of their list.
The Austrian is searching for a new job after leaving Crystal Palace, who he won the FA Cup, UEFA Conference League and FA Community Shield with.
Add those honours to a UEFA Europa League victory with Frankfurt and an Austrian 2. Liga win at LASK and you have a manager with a proven winning record wherever he has been.
His philosophy of favouring a back five with fluid vertical counter-attacks and rapid transitions would also align nicely with a Netherlands squad that has a strong defensive cohort, incisive passers in midfield and some electric forwards in Summerville and Gakpo to name a couple.
