Roberto Martinez is in talks to become the next Netherlands head coach, according to reports in the Netherlands. The former Everton boss is the frontrunner to replace Ronald Koeman after Arne Slot withdrew from the process.
Martinez's international career
Martinez has spent the last decade in international football. The 53-year-old spent seven years in charge of Belgium before joining Portugal, where he remained for three years until last month. He left Portugal after the team was eliminated from the 2026 World Cup in the last 16 by Spain.
Slot's decision
Slot, who left Liverpool in May, had been in negotiations with the KNVB about returning to the Netherlands but has since withdrawn because he wants his next job to be in club football. In a statement to Voetbal International, Slot said: "Over the past few weeks, and particularly the past few days, various reports have appeared regarding the vacancy at the Dutch national team, suggesting that I had withdrawn from the process after lengthy negotiations, including regarding salary and contract duration. That speculation is incorrect. We simply never reached that stage of the talks."
Slot, who won the Eredivisie with Feyenoord in 2023, has not ruled out taking the Netherlands job in the future. He added: "At this stage of my career, I prefer to see myself on the training pitch with my players every day. Something that is simply not possible in the same way with a national team. And (this is) why I chose not to continue the talks and not to start negotiations on what a possible contract might look like. I have enormous respect for the national team and for the KNVB and can only be positive about the professional manner in which the talks proceeded that week. For now, I believe that club football still has a lot to offer me. It would be a great honour to represent my country as national coach one day. However, this was not the right moment for me."
Liverpool context
Liverpool confirmed Slot's exit after a 1-1 draw with Brentford on the final day of the Premier League season. He had guided the club into the Champions League, but the club decided a change was needed. Slot has since been replaced by former Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola, whose first competitive game in charge is set to be against Newcastle United at St James' Park later this month.
