Nigel de Jong becomes new KNVB director of football in surprise appointment

Nigel de Jong has been appointed as the new director of top football at the KNVB, Voetbal International reports.

The former 38-year-old international replaces Nico-Jan Hooma – who has since joined Heracles as technical director – at the governing body and will complete a UEFA management course in the spring to help fulfil the role.

He said: “It is a very good prospect to get started in this position, in which I want to help improve Dutch top football, both for men and women. The Netherlands always has the ambition to belong to the absolute world top. 

“The talent present and the history justify that ambition. Working in top football requires specific knowledge and experience. In my years as a player I gained that at various clubs at home and abroad and I can now use it. It has been seventeen years since I left the Netherlands, but of course I have always followed Dutch football. 

“And I feel like I’ve always been a part of it. It is a great honour and I am going to give the best interpretation here, together with others.”

De Jong will be responsible to ensure the national teams continue to develop and perform to an elite level in what is his first major job since retiring. The former Manchester City player has shadowed at a number of clubs to get experience as he starts a career in management.

GBeNeFN | Tom Phillips

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