FRANCE 98 – General Media News Template

Coach Guus Hiddink has the task of resurrecting the glory years of Dutch football during the 70’s, when they reached two World Cup finals, and late 80’s, when they were crowned European champions.

The 51-year-old Hiddink, who took over from Dick Advocaat in December 1994, is yet to reach those heights at international level, though he has excelled at PSV Eindhoven.

With Eindhoven, he won the Dutch championship in 1986 and 1987 before a superb year in 1988 when the club won both the domestic league and the European Cup.

He left the country to work with Fenerbahce in Turkey then Valencia in Spain before eventually returning to Holland.

Hiddink was also an impressive player with De Graafschap, PSV and NEC Nijmegen in his native country before spending time in the USA with Washington Diplomats and San Jose Earthquakes. Hiddink made his presence felt on the national team by changing the 4-3-3 line-up to a 4-4-2 approach which was in keeping with his philosophy at PSV.

His ideas had success as they topped their World Cup qualifying group to wipe away the memory of a poor showing in the last European championships. Many of his players are excelling at their respective clubs. Midfielder Edgar Davids is in the Juventus set-up which has reached the European Cup final, Dennis Bergkamp is in sparkling form at Arsenal in England, and Edwin Van der Sar, easily Holland’s best keeper, won the Dutch title with Ajax this season.

Perhaps it will be team spirit which might be Holland’s saviour or downfall. On the positive side, freedom of expression is allowed within the squad but in the past that has sometimes boiled over into open conflict.

Edgar Davids heavily criticised Hiddink at Euro 96 and Ruud Gullit walked out of the training camp for the 1994 World Cup. If Hiddink can guide Holland’s traditionally spirited players into unity rather than division, he could create a potent footballing force.