Cody Gakpo is looking to become the Netherlands’s first-choice center-forward at this week’s UEFA Nations League finals. Originally a left-winger, the 24-year-old player has been adapting to this role since joining Liverpool in January from PSV Eindhoven.

“Now that I’m playing at Liverpool I think it’s a nice position,” Gakpo told reporters on Sunday as the Netherlands prepares for the tournament. With Memphis Depay unavailable through injury, Gakpo is now in a prime position to lead the Dutch attack.

Gakpo went on to admit that several coaches had previously tried to convince him to switch from the wing to striker; a change that he resisted. During his interview, Gakpo said he has grown fond of his new position.

According to the player, Guus Hiddink was the first coach to recommend the change, telling Gakpo to become either a striker or a false number 9. During his time at PSV, Gakpo was given the same advice by Roger Schmidt.

While Gakpo completed his shift to the center during his time at Liverpool, it was during the 2022 World Cup that he began his transition.

The Netherlands is set to face Croatia on Wednesday, with Spain and Italy competing in the other semi-final. Both the game for 3rd place and the final are set to be played on Sunday.

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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.

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With Ronald Koeman ready to step down as the Netherlands boss to take over Barcelona, rumors surfaced that former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is interested in taking over the Dutch national team. But according to Wenger himself, there is no truth in those reports.

Speaking with De Telegraaf on Wednesday, Wenger denied he has any talks about the Netherlands’ job or that he offered his services to the Dutch federation as it was earlier reported.

“That is a lie. I have not offered my services to anyone,” said Wenger. “I am the only one who talks about my own future.”

Wenger has been out of a job since leaving Arsenal in 2018 and now works as chief of global football development for FIFA. The 70-year-old manager was linked with several high-profile job openings in the past but hadn’t been actively pursuing a return to management.

The Netherlands’ national team has a talented squad, highlighted by Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk, Barcelona’s Frenkie de Jong, and Lyon’s Memphis Depay, which has been poised for great future on the international scene. Under Koeman, Dutch side qualified for the Euro 2021 with six wins and only one defeat in their group. They also finished as runners-up in the inaugural UEFA Nations League competition.

The post Arsene Wenger Dismisses Speculations about Netherlands Job appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Cody Gakpo is looking to become the Netherlands’s first-choice center-forward at this week’s UEFA Nations League finals. Originally a left-winger, the 24-year-old player has been adapting to this role since joining Liverpool in January from PSV Eindhoven.

“Now that I’m playing at Liverpool I think it’s a nice position,” Gakpo told reporters on Sunday as the Netherlands prepares for the tournament. With Memphis Depay unavailable through injury, Gakpo is now in a prime position to lead the Dutch attack.

Gakpo went on to admit that several coaches had previously tried to convince him to switch from the wing to striker; a change that he resisted. During his interview, Gakpo said he has grown fond of his new position.

According to the player, Guus Hiddink was the first coach to recommend the change, telling Gakpo to become either a striker or a false number 9. During his time at PSV, Gakpo was given the same advice by Roger Schmidt.

While Gakpo completed his shift to the center during his time at Liverpool, it was during the 2022 World Cup that he began his transition.

The Netherlands is set to face Croatia on Wednesday, with Spain and Italy competing in the other semi-final. Both the game for 3rd place and the final are set to be played on Sunday.

The post Cody Gakpo to Step Up for Netherlands in Nations League Finals appeared first on SportzBonanza.

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.

The post Ex-Atlanta United Coach Frank de Boer Takes over Netherlands National Team appeared first on SportzBonanza.

With Ronald Koeman ready to step down as the Netherlands boss to take over Barcelona, rumors surfaced that former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is interested in taking over the Dutch national team. But according to Wenger himself, there is no truth in those reports.

Speaking with De Telegraaf on Wednesday, Wenger denied he has any talks about the Netherlands’ job or that he offered his services to the Dutch federation as it was earlier reported.

“That is a lie. I have not offered my services to anyone,” said Wenger. “I am the only one who talks about my own future.”

Wenger has been out of a job since leaving Arsenal in 2018 and now works as chief of global football development for FIFA. The 70-year-old manager was linked with several high-profile job openings in the past but hadn’t been actively pursuing a return to management.

The Netherlands’ national team has a talented squad, highlighted by Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk, Barcelona’s Frenkie de Jong, and Lyon’s Memphis Depay, which has been poised for great future on the international scene. Under Koeman, Dutch side qualified for the Euro 2021 with six wins and only one defeat in their group. They also finished as runners-up in the inaugural UEFA Nations League competition.

The post Arsene Wenger Dismisses Speculations about Netherlands Job appeared first on SportzBonanza.