Roberto Martinez Emerges as Serious Candidate to Lead the Netherlands

Roberto Martinez has emerged as a serious candidate to become the next manager of the Netherlands following Ronald Koeman's departure. Koeman stepped down shortly after the Netherlands were eliminated by Morocco on penalties in the round of 32 at the 2026 World Cup, prompting the KNVB to begin its search for a new leader.

Several high-profile names had previously been linked with the position, including Peter Bosz, Erik ten Hag, Arne Slot, Michael Reiziger and Pep Guardiola. However, none of those candidates reportedly progressed to advanced negotiations with the Dutch football federation. Martinez has now moved closer to the forefront of the process after the KNVB began discussions with the Spanish coach.

According to reports from the Netherlands, Martinez has already met KNVB football director Nigel de Jong in Malaga to discuss the possibility of taking charge of the national team. The 53-year-old had only recently left his position as Portugal manager after the 2026 World Cup, where Portugal reached the round of 16 before being eliminated by eventual champions Spain.

Martinez brings considerable international experience to the role. During his time with Portugal, he recorded 32 victories and seven defeats in 45 matches and guided the team to the Euro 2024 quarter-finals. Before that, he managed Belgium from 2016 to 2022, leading the country's so-called golden generation to third place at the 2018 World Cup, their best-ever finish in the competition.

His club career also adds further experience, with previous spells at Everton, Wigan Athletic and Swansea City. Martinez won the FA Cup with Wigan in 2013 and helped Swansea secure the League One title in 2007. The combination of international tournament experience, club management and work with high-profile players makes him an attractive option as the KNVB considers the best coach to lead the Netherlands into a new era.