Can Dutch Coaches Win the Premier League?
Introduction:
Arne Slot is set to become the new Liverpool manager, taking over from Jurgen Klopp. However, he faces the challenge of proving that Dutch coaches can win the Premier League. Out of the previous nine Dutch coaches in the league, none have come close to winning the title. While some have had moderate success, others have been disasters. Let’s take a closer look at how Dutch coaches have fared in the Premier League.
Ruud Gullit:
Ruud Gullit was the Premier League’s first Dutch manager and had a decent spell at Chelsea, winning the FA Cup in 1997. However, controversies and disagreements led to his sacking. His time at Newcastle was a disaster, falling out with key players and eventually resigning after a defeat to rivals Sunderland. Verdict: Miss.
Martin Jol:
Martin Jol had mixed results during his time at Tottenham and Fulham. He had a promising start at Spurs, winning manager of the month early on. However, they missed out on Champions League qualification in a controversial final day loss to Arsenal. Jol was eventually sacked during the 2007-08 season. His tenure at Fulham saw a top-half finish followed by a 12th-place finish. Verdict: Miss.
Guus Hiddink:
Guus Hiddink had two spells as interim manager at Chelsea and achieved relative success. In his first season, he finished third in the league, reached the Champions League semi-finals, and won the FA Cup. In his second spell, he helped Chelsea climb up the table and secure a mid-table finish. Verdict: Hit.
Rene Meulensteen:
Rene Meulensteen, known for his time as an assistant coach at Manchester United, had a disastrous spell at Fulham. Taking over from Martin Jol, Meulensteen couldn’t turn the team’s fortunes around and they ended up being relegated. Verdict: Miss.
Ronald Koeman:
Ronald Koeman had a promising stint at Southampton, leading them to seventh and sixth-place finishes despite a player exodus. He then moved to Everton but struggled, spending heavily on underperforming players. He was eventually sacked with the team in the relegation zone. Verdict: Miss.
Louis van Gaal:
Louis van Gaal was Manchester United’s first Dutch manager and had mixed success. He achieved fourth and fifth-place finishes and won the FA Cup. However, his style of play didn’t win over the fans, and he was eventually sacked. Verdict: Miss.
Dick Advocaat:
Dick Advocaat managed to keep Sunderland in the Premier League during his interim spell in 2015. However, he couldn’t replicate that success the following season and resigned after a poor start. Verdict: Miss.
Frank de Boer:
Frank de Boer had the shortest and worst reign of any Premier League manager during his time at Crystal Palace. Lasting just four league games without a win, he was quickly sacked. Verdict: Miss.
Erik ten Hag:
Erik ten Hag is the current manager of Manchester United, succeeding Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. He had a promising first season, winning the Carabao Cup and securing Champions League qualification. However, this season has been challenging, with injuries and lack of progress raising concerns. Knocking Liverpool out of the FA Cup may not be enough to save his job if Champions League football is not secured. Verdict: Miss.
Conclusion:
While Dutch coaches have had some successes in the Premier League, none have been able to win the title. Arne Slot faces an uphill battle to prove that Dutch coaches can achieve this feat. With the mixed record of previous Dutch managers, he will need to overcome significant challenges to succeed at Liverpool. Only time will tell if he can break the trend and lead the Reds to Premier League glory.