Liverpool FC first-team star players Virgil van Dijk and Gini Wijnaldum took to social media to express their gratitude towards their departing Dutch national team boss Ronald Koeman. The latter’s appointment as the new FC Barcelona manager was confirmed on Wednesday after a great deal of speculation following Quique Setién’s recent dismissal.
The 57-year old coach had taken the Netherlands job in February 2018 after the resignation of Dick Advocaat. Under his charge, the Oranje had achieved an impressive second-place finish in the UEFA Euros qualifying group C behind Germany.
Van Dijk and Wijnaldum, both central figures to Jurgen Klopp’s Premier League title-winning side last season, are also a crucial part of the Dutch national team that is being tipped to be a dark horse at next year’s UEFA Euros. Ronald Koeman had put together an impressive bunch of players in the mix such as the Reds duo, Frenkie de Jong, Memphis Depay, and Quincy Promes at the national team setup.
Koeman has prior work experience in the Premier League as well, with the ex-Dutch international having managed both Everton and Southampton. He did, however, have a disastrous run as the Everton boss and was sacked after the Toffees languished in the 2017-18 season’s relegation zone.
