--- title: "Historic Turn: Roberto Martinez on the Brink of Becoming the Netherlands National Team Head Coach" description: "🇳🇱 Roberto Martinez on the brink of becoming the Netherlands national team head coach! 🇪🇸 The parties are already negotiating. If the deal is made, the Spaniard will become the first foreign coach of the \"Oranje\" since 1978. 🔹 Koeman left after the exit against Morocco at the 2026 World Cup. 🔹 Domestic candidates (Slot, Ten Hag) were not suitable. 🔹 Martinez became free after the World Cup in Portugal. 🔹 First task: Nations League against Germany and Serbia. #Football #Netherlands #Martinez #WC2026" date: 2026-08-12T14:34:00.000Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/martinez-netherlands-historic-appointment tags: [football, netherlands, roberto-martines, knvb, world-cup-2026, transfer-news] publisher: "XAB.info" --- # Historic Turn: Roberto Martinez on the Brink of Becoming the Netherlands National Team Head Coach ![Roberto Martinez at a press conference, considered the top candidate for the Netherlands national team manager position](https://xab.info/media/2026/08/12/martines-niderlandy-istoricheskoe-naznachenie/martines-niderlandy-istoricheskoe-naznachenie-1.webp) ## 🎯 Key Points - Roberto Martinez is negotiating with the KNVB to become the head coach of the Netherlands national team. - If successful, the Spaniard will become the first foreign coach of the Dutch since 1978. - Ronald Koeman left the post after the Netherlands' exit against Morocco at the 2026 World Cup. - Domestic candidates, including Arne Slot and Erik ten Hag, were rejected. A significant event is unfolding in the football world that could radically change the trajectory of Dutch football. Spanish specialist Roberto Martinez is one step away from signing a contract with the Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB). According to the authoritative publication [Sport RBC.UA](https://www.sport.rbc.ua/), citing the Dutch tabloid De Telegraaf, both parties have already moved to discussing specific terms of cooperation. This appointment would be unprecedented for the "Oranje". ### The End of the Koeman Era and the Search for a New Leader The position of head coach of the Netherlands national team became vacant in July 2026 following the resignation of Ronald Koeman. His departure was a logical conclusion to an unsuccessful performance at the home World Cup 2026. Despite being one of the tournament favorites, the Dutch sensationally exited the competition in the Round of 32, losing to Morocco in a penalty shootout. This defeat became the point of no return for the contract with the 53-year-old specialist, who had led the team since January 2023. The KNVB leadership initially considered the possibility of appointing domestic coaches to this position. The shortlist included such renowned figures as Arne Slot, Peter Bosz, and Erik ten Hag. However, all these options were rejected for various reasons: from the inability to terminate existing contracts with clubs to fundamental disagreements regarding the vision of the future national team project. ### Historic Appointment: The First Foreigner Since 1978 If negotiations with Roberto Martinez conclude successfully, it will be a historic moment for Dutch football. Martinez would become the first foreign head coach of the Netherlands national team since 1978. The last coach without Dutch citizenship was the legendary Austrian Ernst Happel. Such a move indicates the KNVB's readiness to seek solutions beyond traditional personnel reserves, betting on the experience and international authority of the Spanish specialist. Roberto Martinez himself became a free agent as of early July 2026. He left the post of head coach of the Portugal national team immediately after the conclusion of the World Cup. In Portugal, he worked successfully, but, like many coaches, could not hold on after the completion of the cycle associated with the World Cup. Now, his experience working with top national teams and knowledge of the specifics of international tournaments make him an ideal candidate for the revival of the "Oranje". ### Complex Tournament Prospects and Tasks for 2026 The new head coach will have to immediately engage in the fight for prestige. Already this autumn, the Netherlands national team will start in the updated 2026 Nations League. The Dutch have landed in the elite Division A, where they face an extremely difficult group. The "Oranje" will have to battle against such strong opponents as Germany, Serbia, and Greece. These matches will be the first real test for the new coaching staff and an opportunity to rehabilitate themselves after the failure at the 2026 World Cup. The successful conclusion of negotiations with Martinez also has the context of parallel events in European football. It was previously reported that Mauricio Pochettino extended his contract with the USA national team, confirming the trend of attracting star coaches to work in national teams. Martinez, with experience working with Belgium and Portugal, fits perfectly into this trend, offering the KNVB a ready-made scheme for working with elite players. ## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification - [Royal Dutch Football Association is negotiating with Roberto Martinez](https://www.sportsdaily.ru/news/korolevskim-futbolnym-soyuzom-niderlandov-vedet-peregovory-s-roberto-martinesom/) - Подтверждает статус переговоров и контекст ухода Кумана. - [Netherlands national team discusses the appointment of Roberto Martinez](https://www.soccer.ru/news/1433666/martines-roberto-niderlandy) - Подтверждено по источнику soccer.ru - [Roberto Martinez could lead a top national team again](https://www.euro-football.ru/article/1003652458/1006262102_roberto_martines_mojet_snova_vozglavit_top-sbornuyu) - Подтверждено по источнику euro-football.ru - [Former Portugal coach could lead the Netherlands national team — De Telegraaf](https://www.championat.com/football/news-6578864-eks-trener-portugalii-mozhet-vozglavit-sbornuyu-niderlandov-de-telegraaf.html) - Подтверждает факт переговоров и ссылку на De Telegraaf. ## ❓ FAQ ### Q: Why did Ronald Koeman leave the post of coach of the Netherlands national team? **A:** Koeman resigned in July 2026 after the sensational exit of the Netherlands national team against Morocco in the Round of 32 of the 2026 World Cup. ### Q: Who was the last foreign coach of the Netherlands national team before Roberto Martinez? **A:** The last foreign coach of the team was the Austrian Ernst Happel, who worked with the team in 1978. ### Q: Why did Roberto Martinez become a free agent? **A:** Martinez left the post of head coach of the Portugal national team in July 2026 immediately after the team's performance at the World Cup concluded.