Ex-Atlanta United Coach Frank de Boer Takes over Netherlands National Team

Frank de Boer in 2017. Photo by Paul Currie/BPI/Shutterstock (9049176ch)

Frank de Boer didn’t have to wait for long to find a new job after parting ways with Atlanta United earlier in the summer. According to multiple reports from Europe, de Boer agreed to take over the Netherlands national team.

De Boer will sign a contract until 2022, succeeding Ronald Koeman at the position. Koeman left last month to take over Barcelona.

The Royal Netherlands Football Association is expected to make the agreement official later this week or early next week. 

De Boer won’t have much time to settle on his new job, as he will have to announce the senior team selection next Friday. He will make his debut in a friendly against Mexico on October 7, followed by the UEFA League of Nations match against Bosnia and Herzegovina four days later.

After an illustrious career as a player, Frank de Boer transitioned to a managerial career and had his first start with Ajax. De Boer enjoyed an impressive run with the Eredivisie powerhouse, winning four consecutive national titles between 2010 and 2014 alongside one Dutch Super Cup. Despite this success, he decided to resign from the club in 2016.

De Boer took over Seria A side Inter Milan in the same year but only lasted a couple of months at the position before being fired after seven losses in 14 games. He was then appointed as coach of Premier League club Crystal Palace, where he also saw a quick exit after suffering four defeats in five games.

After taking a one-year break, de Boer returned to managing in 2018 when he was appointed as the coach of Atlanta United. He won Campeones Cup and U.S. Open Cup with Atlanta in 2019 but mutually agreed with the club to part ways after three defeats in the recent MLS is Back Tournament.

Harley loves music and tries to go to a music festival every summer. When he's not listening to music, he writes about movies, food and wine, art, and sport.