Latest news with #KNVB
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Dutch Fanwalk arrives in 🇨🇭 with huge Lioness head atop iconic Orange Bus
The Netherlands' legendary Fanwalk is back, and it just rolled into Switzerland in style. As the Dutch Lionesses get ready to kick off their Euro 2025 campaign, the famous Orange Bus has officially arrived in Luzern, ready to lead the thousands-strong Fanwalks through the host cities once again. And this time, it's louder, brighter, and more orange than ever. Advertisement Just last week, long-time driver Frans was given a surprise he never saw coming. Former Netherlands international Anouk Hoogendijk greeted him aboard his fully revamped Oranje Bus: think cinema screen, DJ booth, disco lights, partycam, and a four-metre-tall inflatable lioness head on top of the iconic vehicle. 'Every year it gets bigger, louder, and more unbelievable,' said Frans. 'Now that we're here in Switzerland, it's time to turn things orange again, and show Europe how we support our team.' For over two decades, Frans and his team have been at the heart of the Dutch football party scene, leading crowds of fans to stadiums across Europe in what's become one of football's most iconic fan rituals. This year they support the Dutch Lionesses like never before. Advertisement The upgrade to the bus was made possible by Staatsloterij, a long-standing partner of the Royal Dutch Football Association KNVB. While the contribution of the Dutch state lottery made headlines back home, the real magic happens behind the bus. With the revamped bus now in place, the stage is set for another unforgettable summer of Dutch support.
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Netherlands coach denies causing Euro 2025 ‘puppet show' with podcast comments
Netherlands head coach Andries Jonker has denied causing a distraction for his team at the 2025 European Championship after appearing on a podcast to discuss his impending departure shortly before the beginning of the tournament. The Dutch Football Association (KNVB) announced in January that Jonker's contract would not be extended beyond the end of Euro 2025. Advertisement Speaking on the NOS Football Podcast in an episode published on Thursday, the 62-year-old said he considered quitting his role ahead of the tournament and expressed concerns over his authority and the support he was receiving. In a heated exchange with the media ahead of the Netherlands' Euro 2025 opener against Wales on Saturday, Jonker was accused by one journalist of creating a 'puppet show', whereby everything was about him and not the players. He responded: 'These women have given everything in 2025. Everything. And we have done that together. You people are all here today and this is thanks to us. To these women. The royal family will be there. And you have the guts to call it puppetry. If you think it's a puppet show, than you're entitled to your opinion. You are insulting the players. I have never seen you at training sessions and you're asking the players if they will believe the puppet show.' Then questioned if he regretted his comments on the podcast, Jonker said: 'No, you know me. Sherida's (Spitse, the Netherlands captain, who was sitting next to him at the press conference) attitude tells you clearly that it doesn't affect her, it doesn't affect the team. We want to win. We want to do well.' Advertisement Asked if the comments would create an interference at the tournament, he replied: 'No, only in the media. Not with the players. You heard her (Spitse). The players know what they need to do. We want to clinch our first win this tournament and we need to do it together.' Jonker was appointed Netherlands head coach in 2022, succeeding Mark Parsons. He led the side to the quarter-finals of the 2023 World Cup, where they lost to eventual champions Spain, but the Dutch failed to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics. England assistant head coach Arjan Veurink has been confirmed as his successor. Captain Spitse insisted the team's 'focus was on football'. Asked if Jonker was wrong to make the comments, she replied: 'You're asking me the question, but he's sitting next to me. Why don't you ask him? I can't speak on the coach's behalf.' 'A remarkable press conference' The small media room at Swissporarena was already hot, baked in the afternoon sun of Lucerne. But as bodies piled in, filling the space like a flooded house, there loomed the unshakable sensation of something big coming. Advertisement And then it happened. Sherida Spitse and Andries Jonker took what felt like the stand, interrogated over Jonker's comments published 24 hours prior. Spitse did her best to defer, to insist group harmony was in order. But after 15 minutes, she retired, leaving Jonker to defend his decision to speak so publicly on a podcast about internal affairs. And so began the interrogation: media versus Jonker. With each question agitation grew, to a point where there was no clear line between question or answer and simply words being spat at each other, slicing through the hot air. When a journalist accused Jonker of confecting a puppet show, Jonker returned the insult, then questioned the journalist's record of covering the team. Finally, the head coach sighed, announced he was finished answering the questions. And so ended a truly phenomenal press conference, in which anything but harmony seemed to exist. This article originally appeared in The Athletic. Netherlands, Women's Soccer, Women's Euros 2025 The Athletic Media Company
New York Times
04-07-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Netherlands coach denies causing Euro 2025 ‘puppet show' with podcast comments
Netherlands head coach Andries Jonker has denied causing a distraction for his team at the 2025 European Championship after appearing on a podcast to discuss his impending departure shortly before the beginning of the tournament. The Dutch Football Association (KNVB) announced in January that Jonker's contract would not be extended beyond the end of Euro 2025. Advertisement Speaking on the NOS Football Podcast in an episode published on Thursday, the 62-year-old said he considered quitting his role ahead of the tournament and expressed concerns over his authority and the support he was receiving. In a heated exchange with the media ahead of the Netherlands' Euro 2025 opener against Wales on Saturday, Jonker was accused by one journalist of creating a 'puppet show', whereby everything was about him and not the players. He responded: 'These women have given everything in 2025. Everything. And we have done that together. You people are all here today and this is thanks to us. To these women. The royal family will be there. And you have the guts to call it puppetry. If you think it's a puppet show, than you're entitled to your opinion. You are insulting the players. I have never seen you at training sessions and you're asking the players if they will believe the puppet show.' Then questioned if he regretted his comments on the podcast, Jonker said: 'No, you know me. Sherida's (Spitse, the Netherlands captain, who was sitting next to him at the press conference) attitude tells you clearly that it doesn't affect her, it doesn't affect the team. We want to win. We want to do well.' Asked if the comments would create an interference at the tournament, he replied: 'No, only in the media. Not with the players. You heard her (Spitse). The players know what they need to do. We want to clinch our first win this tournament and we need to do it together.' Jonker was appointed Netherlands head coach in 2022, succeeding Mark Parsons. He led the side to the quarter-finals of the 2023 World Cup, where they lost to eventual champions Spain, but the Dutch failed to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics. England assistant head coach Arjan Veurink has been confirmed as his successor. Captain Spitse insisted the team's 'focus was on football'. Asked if Jonker was wrong to make the comments, she replied: 'You're asking me the question, but he's sitting next to me. Why don't you ask him? I can't speak on the coach's behalf.' The small media room at Swissporarena was already hot, baked in the afternoon sun of Lucerne. But as bodies piled in, filling the space like a flooded house, there loomed the unshakable sensation of something big coming. And then it happened. Sherida Spitse and Andries Jonker took what felt like the stand, interrogated over Jonker's comments published 24 hours prior. Spitse did her best to defer, to insist group harmony was in order. But after 15 minutes, she retired, leaving Jonker to defend his decision to speak so publicly on a podcast about internal affairs. Advertisement And so began the interrogation: media versus Jonker. With each question agitation grew, to a point where there was no clear line between question or answer and simply words being spat at each other, slicing through the hot air. When a journalist accused Jonker of confecting a puppet show, Jonker returned the insult, then questioned the journalist's record of covering the team. Finally, the head coach sighed, announced he was finished answering the questions. And so ended a truly phenomenal press conference, in which anything but harmony seemed to exist.
Daily Mirror
05-06-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Man City set to complete sensational £115m triple swoop as medicals booked
Pep Guardiola is getting down to work in this summer's transfer window as Manchester City look to bounce back from a trophyless campaign Manchester City have been given permission to put £46.3million midfielder Tijjani Reijnders through his medical on Sunday - even though the Dutchman will still officially be with Ronald Koeman's Netherlands' squad. Koeman, a close friend of City boss Pep Guardiola, has been given permission for Reijnders to be put through his paces on Sunday, less than 24 hours after Holland face Finland in Helsinki. It is not yet clear whether the 26-year-old will fly to Manchester in a private jet or whether City will send a team of medics to the KNVB's training camp outside the town of Zeist. Holland face another qualifier against Malta in Groningen on Tuesday night, when Reijnders is expected to feature. City have agreed a deal with both Milan and the player after he scored 15 goals for the Italian club. The Blues want the transfer concluded as quickly as possible so that Guardiola can name Reijnders in his squad for the Club World Cup in the United States. City want at least three new players available for the tournament. They have agreed terms for Lyon's attacking midfielder Rayan Cherki and Wolves defender Rayan Ait-Nouri. Both will arrive at the Etihad in deals worth around £35million and are also expected to undergo medicals over the next few days despite being on international duty with France and Algeria respectively. France meet Spain in the Nations League on Thursday and are hoping for a place in Sunday's final against Portugal. Ait-Nouri will not play for Algeria against Rwanda tonight but will be available for the game in Sweden on Tuesday after concluding his physical checks with City.
Ya Biladi
21-04-2025
- Sport
- Ya Biladi
Moroccan-Dutch coaches seek UEFA PRO diploma via Morocco
Moroccan former professional footballer and current Sparta assistant coach Nourdin Boukhari is working to obtain the UEFA PRO diploma through Morocco, after being deemed ineligible for the course in the Netherlands for now. «Yes, I'm trying», Boukhari said on ESPN's Goedemorgen Eredivisie. «I've indicated to the KNVB that I want to do UEFA PRO to get my highest coaching credentials. But to qualify for that, I first have to train a team independently for one year. Only then can I do UEFA PRO with the KNVB». With that requirement standing in his way, Boukhari is turning to the Moroccan Football Federation, which is opening its doors to Moroccan-Dutch coaches based in Europe. «The Moroccan association has indicated that they want to give Moroccan-Dutch trainers in the Netherlands the opportunity to grow as a trainer in Morocco», he said. «They want to arrange that paper for you there. For that, you have to be in Morocco a few times, also be on the field, and then they look at the qualities that you have. They also want to come to the Netherlands a few times. And then there are a lot of online meetings», he explained. He's not alone. Others going through the same process include Saïd Bakkati, Ali Boussaboun, Oussama Assaidi, Karim El Ahmadi, and Khalid Sinouh. «I am trying to complete that as soon as possible», Boukhari said. «But that piece of paper is only valid in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. They are working on making that diploma valid in Europe as well».
