Scandal! Sneijder tears into Netherlands coach Xavi. What happened?
Sneijder has put the KNVB’s logic under serious scrutiny.
Details: Former Netherlands star Wesley Sneijder has publicly questioned the decision to appoint Xavi Hernández as national team head coach. The ex-midfielder’s main complaint concerns what he sees as an inconsistency between the KNVB’s requirements for Dutch coaches and the path Xavi took to obtain his qualifications.
Sneijder did not hide his surprise over the appointment:
“It seems a bit strange to me that they choose a national team coach who actually didn’t meet the standards of the Dutch FA itself. Xavi completed his A, B, and Pro coaching licenses in four weeks. The standard of the Dutch Federation is that every coach currently must complete a four-and-a-half-year course. I wish Xavi all the best, but as a coach he has little experience.”
Sneijder stressed that his criticism is aimed primarily at the federation’s policy. The former Netherlands midfielder previously discussed his own coaching education with KNVB officials and says he was told that an accelerated route was no longer possible. That is why he considers the decision to appoint Xavi difficult to reconcile with the standards previously presented to Dutch coaches.
It is worth noting that Xavi was officially appointed Netherlands head coach on August 12 and signed a contract running through the 2030 World Cup. His first three matches in charge have ended without defeat: a 1-1 draw with Germany, a 2-1 win over Serbia and a 2-2 draw against Greece.
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Steven Perez
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