Michael Reiziger will remain the head coach of Jong Oranje (Young Oranje) for the coming years. The coach of the Dutch national youth team has extended his contract with the KNVB (Royal Dutch Football Association) on Monday until mid-2027. Reportedly, Reiziger was one of the candidates for the head coaching position at Ajax.
The 52-year-old Reiziger has been the head coach of Jong Oranje since 2023. He succeeded Erwin van de Looi two years ago. He is currently preparing with the youth team for the European Championship in Slovakia, which starts on June 11. It will be his first major tournament as a coach.
“I am very happy with this extension and the appreciation it expresses,” says Reiziger. “I really enjoy working at the KNVB. It is a good organization to work for. You work with absolute top quality in the Netherlands. I am also happy that we can announce this before the European Championship begins, so that the focus can now be fully on the tournament.”
Jong Oranje qualified very convincingly for the European Championship. Reiziger’s team won all ten qualifying matches.
“We as KNVB are also naturally happy with the extension of Michael,” says director of top football Nigel de Jong. “He has developed excellently as head coach of Jong Oranje over the past two years, which has resulted in a great series of matches leading up to qualification for the upcoming European Championship.”
Reiziger was reportedly in consideration at Ajax
Reiziger was previously the coach of Sparta Rotterdam and Jong Ajax. After the departure of Francesco Farioli, the 72-time Oranje international was reportedly in consideration at Ajax to take over as head coach.
Earlier in the day, Erik ten Hag signed with Bayer Leverkusen. Ten Hag was also said to have been one of the candidates for the succession of Farioli, according to technical director Alex Kroes.