Derksen lays into Clarence Seedorf mercilessly

Johan Derksen discusses in Greetings from Grolloo the appointment of Xavi as head coach of the Netherlands national team. De Snor is especially harsh on one person inside the KNVB who was involved in the search for a new national coach.

"You cannot say he does not have a good CV," Derksen says as he weighs up Xavi's appointment as the new Netherlands head coach. "It is a big name, although he has not done that much as a coach yet, little experience. What speaks in his favour is that he grew up with the Cruyff philosophy. So Xavi would fit in well in the Netherlands."

He then adds: "I still find it strange to take a foreigner. Because I see that as an indictment of the KNVB's own coaching education. And an indictment of Dutch coaches, that they are being passed over."

Derksen is also unimpressed by the KNVB's search for a successor to Ronald Koeman. "I also find it strange that Nigel de Jong and Clarence Seedorf (member of the supervisory board for professional football with a focus on football-technical matters, ed.) simply decide who becomes head coach. And in Seedorf's case especially, I know that he is very resentful towards all sorts of people in football. People who, in his view, have always obstructed him. A frustrated guy who dislikes a great many people. And who will keep those people out precisely."

He also cannot understand why Peter Bosz was never discussed. "It is also incomprehensible that Peter Bosz was never discussed. Seedorf is dissatisfied with all the national coaches he worked with. He had a fantastic international career, but he never really showed it with the Netherlands national team. So I find it strange that he, with all his grudges, is allowed to decide who the head coach is," Derksen says again in Monday's podcast.

For now, Derksen is giving Xavi the benefit of the doubt. "But I think it is unworkable that you bring a Spanish-speaking guy to the Netherlands to make him head coach. He does not speak English, which means he cannot communicate. He then needs a Kluivert or something as an interpreter. As a coach, communicating is actually your biggest tool."

Finally, Derksen says De Jong and Seedorf had actually wanted to appoint Michael Reiziger. "They noticed that nobody in the Netherlands had any understanding for that. And that everyone in football said: he does not have that status yet. Then they came under pressure. They did not dare push Reiziger through, so they started looking for a big name instead. To keep public opinion quiet."