Erwin Koeman to Hungary: another export!

Erwin trying hard not to look like Ronald

Adriaanse, Beenhakker, Hiddink, Rutten, Advocaat, Rijkaard, Verbeek… Just some names of current export-coaches practicing their trades abroad. I won’t mention Ronald Koeman in the same breadth today, but big bro’ Erwin Koeman is the next product of Dutch coaches to go abroad and spread the Dutch football religion. He will be the new Hungary National Team Manager and will coordinate the young Hungary teams.

With a massive 15 votes to nil, the Hungarian selection committee said yes to the former Feyenoord coach. MVV wanted him in Holland, Vitesse had him on the short list and FC Twente just lost Rutten to Schalke 04. But he decided for nation with a rich football history and a very lacklustre football “present”.

“I know Hungary isn’t considered top nation. But I truly like the ideas of the Hungarian Federation and my family was up for an adventure,” says Koeman the second foreign team manager after Lothar Matthaus.

“We all know Balazs Dzsudzsak and there’s many more young talented players. These kids need to be trained according to the Dutch school. It wasn’t said literally but the work Beenhakker and Hiddink are doing in other Eastern European nations is an inspiration.”

Danny Blind and Aad de Mos were also on the Hungarian shortlist. Koeman’s contract runs till autumn 2009.

“The goal is to qualify for the WC2010 and to coach at the WC if we make it, but it will be tough. We’re in group with Denmark, Sweden and Portugal. We will first evaluate whether Hungary has progressed.”

The last time Hungary qualified was for the WC1986. Oranje was one of their opponents in the qualification stage and Erwin Koeman was part of that Oranje team playing Hungary in 1984.

Koeman will work half of his time in Budapest, half of his time he will be traveling to see the several youngsters play in Europe. “Most of them play abroad, in Germany, England and some in Holland of course (Dzsudzsak at PSV, Feher at NAC and Vadosz and Babos at NEC).

The older Koeman was always seen as the bigger talent of the two brothers, when they just broke through at FC Groningen. The left footed playmaker became more and more a holding midfielder in his career. Erwin played for PSV Eindhoven and KV Mechelen (with rival for the current post Aad de Mos as coach). Erwin was also part of Michels’ 1988 winning Oranje team, playing left midfielder with the specific task of keeping Arnold Muhren out of trouble. Erwin played 31 caps for Oranje and has 20 seasons of professional football in his legs. After his active playing career he became youth trainer and later assistant to Gerets at PSV. His first head coach job was at RKC, where he became the new crown prince of Dutch coaches.

He worked one season as Feyenoord’s coach, but resigned at the end of last season, not seeing any progress or future at the club.