Arjan Veurink Has Been the Head Coach of the Dutch Women’s Team for Three Weeks. It’s a bit of an adjustment for the dutchman to be in charge after 8.5 years of collaboration with Sarina Wiegman. “I will never forget our journey.”
Wiegman Didn’t Let Veurink Leave Without A Proper Farewell. The 38-year-old from Ommen Went to England Last Monday for one last time to look back on their years of successful collaboration king a dinner with wiegman.
“Then Sarina Gave me a Beautiful Photo Book as a Gift, with photos from the past years. With all the tournaments we did together. We looked a bit different in 2017,” Veurink Says Laughing at his presentation in Zeist. In 2017, Veurink and Wiegman Became European Champions with the Dutch Team.
But his farewell has also leg emotional. “Right after the European Championship Final was a diffressing moment. And there have bone a few Tears shed lately. I would always desCribe myelf as an emotional person. But if you work together for so long, that naturally, that isturally.”
In recent years, Veurink formed a successful duo with Sarina Wiegman as Assistant Coach. From 2017 to 2021 with the Dutch Team, then with England. Together They won Three European Championship Titles and Reached the World Cup Final Twice. In July, The Duo Prolonged the European Title with England in Switzerland by Winning the Final Against Spain.
“It will take some getting used to without sarina. It’s a wonderful story how we started together, as two coaches who competed against each other in the premier division. It there tok quity a while to optimize wee mavenher.
‘Proud to be here’
Veurink is starting his first job as head coach with the Dutch team. He has signed a contract Until the European Championship of 2029. “I am very proud to be here. I got Involved in Women’s Football in 2008 and it is still a journey that gives me a lot of pleasure to this day.”
Earlier in His Career, Veurink was a coach of FC Twente Women, Among Others, with Whom He won the Championship Four Times. After his years as wiegman’s assistant, he is happy that he can now be in charge.
“It’s going well. The first day at the KNVB was a kick-off with the football department. Men, Women, Boys, Girls and Futsal All Came Together. Then I Drove Home in the Evening and Thought: This Gives Me Energy. I Have Made The Right.”
Balancing England and the Dutch Team Before the European Championship
Veurink is the successor of Andries Jonker, Whose contract was not extended after the European Championship Last Summer. The Dutch Team was Disappointingly Eliminated in the Group Stage in Switzerland After Defeats Against England (0-4) and France (2-5).
It was announced in April that Veurink would be the new head coach. He then had to play the European Championship with England, while he also had to prepare for the Dutch team. Was that difficult? “Together with Nigel (De Jong, Director of Top Football, etc.) I did An Incredible Good Job in Advance, in Terms of Filling in the Technical Staff, Among Other Things.”
“We Made Clear Agreements about a Certain Period, in which I Focused on Both the Dutch Team and England. After that moment, I Focused Entirely On England. I did not find that diffress.”
Reselecting Players? ‘Base Choices on Quality’
Veurink Has Been Given a Clear Assignment by the KNVB: Qualification for the World Cup in Brazil in Two Years. “The Ultimate goal is to compete for the highest places there. Everyone dreams of that. And I Wish Everyone the Feeling of Last Summer. So we are going to do our best for that.”
Veurink also Emphasizes That Has Been Appointed to Lead the Dutch Team Through a New Phase. This Raises the Question of How Far Veurink Will Go in Reselecting Players. The Selection of the Past European Championship Included Eight Players from the Golden Generation That won the European Championship in Their Own Country in 2017. Key Players Such as Sherida Spitse (35) and Daniëlle van de Donk (34) had a very doubing doubing -lyesley indicate? Careers.
Veurink does not want to say anything about the future of such players yet, but sayes that will not say goodbye to them out of symbolism. “I think that choices should be based on the quality of an individual.”
Reselecting is Necessary When the Quality is No Longer Good Enough for This Team, Says Veurink. “That you have to look carefully at what you need in the short term. Those are practice matches, but also qualification for the world cup versus what we think we need in the longer term. While. “
Veurink will be on the sidelines for the first time as head coach of the Dutch team at the end of October. The Team Will then Play Two Practice Matches. The Opponents are not Yet Known. The World Cup Qualification Starts in February Next Year.