dutch football

Dennis Bergkamp, Robin van Persie, Virgil van Dijk, Edwin van der Sar, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink. Just a handful of Dutch players who have had an impact on the Premier League. Some helped their teams to successes by scoring goals, others by preventing them. Yet, all of them from the Netherlands.

From the sideline there has been Dutch input as well. While only 10 Dutch managers have led a Premier League side, many more have contributed to successful spells as part of the backroom staff.

So, how exactly has Dutch football influenced the Premier League? How have Dutch managers and players fared in one of the most prestigious competitions? And what impact have the ‘Dutch school’, ‘Total Football’ and Oranje legends had?

Dutch managers in the Premier League: a mixed bag

erik ten hag looks up contemplating in stadium before big game

With the appointment of Arne Slot by Liverpool, there have now been 10 Dutch managers in the Premier League. Four of whom were a Premier League manager on two occasions.

A total of 10 Premier League clubs have been led by a Dutch manager, including four of the Top Six. In addition to Slot at Liverpool, Ruud Gullit and Guus Hiddink managed at Chelsea, Louis van Gaal and Erik ten Hag at Manchester United and Martin Jol at Tottenham Hotspur.

None of them were able to win the Premier League. However, so far, no English manager has achieved that feat either. With the 32 Premier League winning managers coming from seven countries, including two Scottish (Alex Ferguson and Kenny Dalglish) and four Italian managers (Carlo Ancelotti, Roberto Mancini, Claudio Ranieri and Antonio Conte).

While it is still waiting for the first Premier League title, Dutch managers have won four FA Cups and one League Cup. Performances in the league have varied though, more than once leading to fast or controversial sackings.

Silverware won by Dutch managers while managing a Premier League side

Trophy Manager Season Club
Premier League
FA Cup Ruud Gullit

Guus Hiddink

Louis van Gaal

Erik ten Hag

1996/97

2008/09

2015/16

2023/24

Chelsea

Chelsea

Manchester United

Manchester United

League Cup Erik ten Hag 2022/23 Manchester United

Unexplained sacking and longest employment

The first Dutch manager to lead a Premier League team was Ruud Gullit. The 1987 Ballon d’Or winner became a player-manager at Chelsea in 1996 and with success. In his debut season, he became the first manager from outside the British Isles to win the FA Cup. Internal conflicts led Chelsea to sack him during his second season, despite the team ranking second in the league and still being in two cup quarterfinals.

It would be his longest managerial stint. The following season he managed at Newcastle United, where he oversaw 41 Premier League matches.

Martin Jol managed significantly longer in the Premier League than Gullit, and in fact longer than any other Dutch manager so far. After starting out as assistant manager at Tottenham Hotspur, Jol managed the London club for almost three years. A few years later, he returned to the Premier League for a 2.5-year period at Fulham. Of the 202 Premier League matches (113 at Tottenham and 89 at Fulham) he managed, he won 37.1 percent (75 matches). Jol did not win any trophies with his teams, but he was awarded Manager of the Month in December 2004.

Performing above expectations

ronald koeman southampton manager
Ronnie Macdonald from Chelmsford and Largs, United Kingdom, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Like Jol, Dutch national team manager Ronald Koeman did not win any trophies while in England either. However, he was chosen as Manager of the Month on three occasions during his two-year stint at Southampton. A period in which his team performed above expectations.

When first appointed, many pundits and experts predicted a relegation battle for Southampton. Mostly due to the sale of important and talented players, like Luke Shaw (to Manchester United for €37.5 million), Calum Chambers (to Arsenal for €20.23 million), Adam Lallana, Dejan Lovren, and Rickie Lambert (all to Liverpool for €61.8 million). They certainly did not expect Koeman to perform better than his predecessor Mauricio Pochettino’s eighth-place league finish and the club’s highest Premier League points tally (56). Yet, Koeman and Southampton rose to the challenge, racking up 60 points and a seventh-place league finish during the 2014/15 season.

With Graziano Pellè (12 goals), Sadio Mané (10 goals), Shane Long (5 goals, 6 assists), Dušan Tadić (7 assists), Fraser Forster, Ryan Bertrand and Toby Alderweireld, the club brought in the right players to cover the departures. Often playing in a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 line-up, Koeman created a team that was hard to beat. Especially defensively they stood out. During the 2014/15 season, Southampton conceded just 33 goals. Second in the league, only behind champions Chelsea.

During the first half of Koeman’s second season, Southampton’s performance dropped with some even asking for his sacking. However, with a sixth-place finish and 63 points the Saints even improved on Koeman’s debut season.

Dutch managers winning Premier League Manager of the Month

Manager Club When
Martin Jol Tottenham Hotspur December 2004
Ronald Koeman Southampton September 2014, January 2015, January 2016
Erik ten Hag Manchester United September 2022, February & November 2023

Koeman’s subsequent stint at Everton was less successful. The Toffees sacked him a few months into his second season, when the club slipped into the relegation zone after a 5-2 defeat at home to Arsenal. Koeman failed to get his team going, despite spending significantly on players like Jordan Pickford, Gylfi Sigurdsson, Michael Keane, Davy Klaassen, and Wayne Rooney.

Overall, Koeman won 45 percent (55 matches) of the 123 Premier League matches he was in charge. Which ranks him fourth amongst Dutch Premier League managers.

Manchester United going Dutch

Louis Van Gaal

Two of the three Dutch managers with a higher win percentage in the Premier League, managed Manchester United. Namely Louisand Erik ten Hag. In the club’s search for an ideal successor after Sir Alex Ferguson’s successful 27-year reign, they have opted for different types of managers including thus two Dutch managers.

In 2014, they nominated Van Gaal to succeed David Moyes’ one-year stint. Van Gaal had just led Oranje to a third-place finish at the 2014 World Cup in a 5-3-2 line-up. A system change, right before the tournament, to get the best (result) from his players paid off (to an extend). At his appointment, the Dutch football association had given Van Gaal the assignment to play the ‘Dutch school’. It resulted in a 4-3-3 formation with one defensive midfielder at first, whereas the previous years the Dutch often played with a 4-2-3-1 formation.

Throughout his career Van Gaal used many formations, often choosing the system best suited to his teams. Irrespective of system, he has been known for an attacking style and bringing in and developing youth.

When Ajax won the 1994/95 Champions League, for example, he often opted for a 3-4-3 formation. During the final against AC Milan, the line up included six players coming through the club’s famous youth academy, including Frank Rijkaard, De Boer twins and Clarence Seedorf. The latter debuted under Van Gaal at 16 years and 242 days (the youngest-ever debutant for Ajax at the time) and went on to win four Champions League titles with three different clubs. While another Van Gaal-debutant, 18-year-old Patrick Kluivert, scored the final’s only goal in the 85th minute. 15 minutes after coming on.

Selection of players making their debut under Louis van Gaal

Club Players
Ajax Clarence Seedorf

Patrick Kluivert

Barcelona Xavi Hernández

Andrés Iniesta

Victor Valdés

Carles Puyol

Bayern Munich Thomas Müller

David Alaba

Manchester United Marcus Rashford

Andreas Pareira

At Barcelona, Van Gaal most often chose a 4-3-3 formation, leading him to four trophies (two league titles, one Copa del Rey and one UEFA Super Cup). With Xavi, Iniesta, Victor Valdés and Carles Puyol being just four of La Masia-players who made their debut during his time in charge. While Thomas Müller and David Alaba made their debuts while Van Gaal managed at Bayern Munich.

Not meeting expectations

chart when and for how long did dutch managers manage in the premier league

With his management career as it was, hopes were high at United. However, expectations were not quite met. Fresh of his World Cup run, he opted for a 5-3-2 system in preseason and during the first few matches. Not bringing the desired results, he quickly shifted to a mix of (mostly) 4-4-2 and 4-2-3-1 during the rest of his United period.

As he had done at all his clubs, numerous youth-products debuted under Van Gaal. Although with less success, as only Marcus Rashford (Manchester United) and Andreas Pereira (Fulham) still play in the Premier League.

Performances were mixed. A fourth-place finish (70 points) during his first season in charge brought back European football to Old Trafford. However, United’s performance in his second season dropped off. The football was considered boring. Despite the tied-best defensive record (35 goals conceded), United only scored 49 times. With their away-form costing them. In the end, rumours about his sacking were flying around before the FA Cup final. Despite United winning, making him the third Dutch manager to do so, he was sacked the next day.

Going Dutch a second time

Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United tenure has a lot of similarities to Van Gaal’s. Expectations were high for Ten Hag as well, as he led Ajax to a Champions League semifinal in 2018/19. Before seeing many players being sold and having to rebuild, as is often the case for Eredivisie teams. He did so successfully, with Ajax playing some of the best football during the 2021/22 Champions League group stage.

The ability to rebuild is a major asset for United, as the club was (and is) still in a process of rebuilding. A third-place finish (best amongst Dutch managers), an FA Cup final and a League Cup win during his first season (2022/23) gave hope. Yet, goals scored and conceded were not amongst the league’s best. Foreshadowing trouble, which came during his second season in which United finished eighth with a goal difference of minus one. Despite being plagued by injuries and loads of off-field trouble and changes (including Sir Jim Ratcliffe taking a 27.7 percent stake in the club in February 2024), critics expected more of United and Ten Hag. Where Ajax had a clear identity on the field, with at times brilliant dynamic football, United under Ten Hag has not. At least so far.

Like with Van Gaal, rumours of his sacking surrounded an FA Cup final. One in which United took revanche for the loss a year prior by beating Manchester City 2-1. During the summer of 2024, the club spoke to other managers. But with few names available, United decided to stick with Ten Hag for the 2024/25 season. A strategy they hope will bring success in the long run.

Of the 10 Dutch Premier League managers, Ten Hag has the highest win percentage (53.9 percent). Only Guus Hiddink (1.94) and Louis van Gaal (1.79) achieved a higher points per match than Ten Hag (1.78).

Shortest stint by a Premier League manager

chart dutch managers performance in the premier league

Frank de Boer gathered no points during the four Premier League matches he managed.

Crystal Palace appointed the former defender after an 85-day spell at Italy’s Inter Milan and yet managed to sack him even faster. Although Palace won a League Cup tie (2-1 against Ipswich Town), they were unable to score during any of the four league matches they lost. The worst start in 93 top-flight seasons, the club saw no other choice than to replace De Boer. Making his reign the shortest in the Premier League in terms of number of matches.

The Dutch interim

Of the 14 Premier League reigns by a Dutch manager, six started out midseason. Martin Jol (Tottenham) and René Meulensteen (Fulham) started out as assistant managers, taking on the main job after the manager was sacked.

As interim manager, Dick Advocaat prevented Sunderland from getting relegated during the 2014/15 season after Gus Poyet was sacked. He then became the manager for the 2015/16 season, only to be sacked after eight (winless) Premier League matches.

guus hiddink managing chelsea 2016 on sidelines with ranieri
@cfcunofficial (Chelsea Debs) London, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Of the Dutch managers who started out as interim, Guus Hiddink recorded the best performance. Twice, he temporarily took over managerial tasks at Chelsea and with success. In 2008/09, he won the FA Cup and reached the Champions League semifinal. In 2015/16, the club rose six places to 10th under his management. Hiddink won 52.9 percent of the 34 matches he was in charge, recording 1.94 points per match (the highest amongst Dutch managers).

No lasting impact

Despite some of the Dutch managers having made an impact at the clubs they managed, even bringing silverware, none of them have had a major or long-lasting influence. Not the way managers, like Sir Alex Ferguson, Arsène Wenger, Pep Guardiola or even José Mourinho and Jürgen Klopp have.

Some of these managers did have Dutch contributions on the sideline though. René Meulensteen was part of Ferguson’s staff at Manchester United for six seasons, before he tried his luck as manager at Fulham. Pepijn Lijnders was part of Liverpool’s staff for almost the entire duration of Klopp’s reign. Van Gaal asked Albert Stuivenberg to join him at United. He is now part of Mikel Arteta’s backroom staff at Arsenal. While Ten Hag added former striker Ruud van Nistelrooy to his team at United in the summer of 2024.

Selection of assistant managers at Top Six Premier League clubs

Assistant manager Club(s)
Henk ten Cate Chelsea (2007-2008)
René Meulensteen Manchester United (2007-2013)
Pepijn Lijnders Liverpool (2014-2017 & 2018-2024)
Albert Stuivenberg Manchester United (2014-2016)

Arsenal (2019 – present)

Ruud van Nistelrooy Manchester United (2024 – present)

The influence of Dutch legends on the game

Of the managers to have managed in the Premier League, Van Gaal, Hiddink, Advocaat, and Koeman would probably feature on lists of best Dutch managers. Together with managers like Frank Rijkaard, Leo Beenhakker, Aad de Mos, Co Adriaanse, and Bert van Marwijk, they are valued due to the trophies they have won and the clubs and national teams they have worked at.

In addition to Van Gaal, Rinus Michels and Johan Cruijff are the two managers who have had the biggest impact on Dutch football.

Michels is not only valued in the Netherlands. The General, as was his nickname, was chosen as best manager of the 20th century by FIFA in 1999 and received the Lifetime Achievement award from UEFA in 2002. In 2007, The Times elected him best manager after World War II, while France Football named him the best manager in history in 2019.

Rinus Michels Johan Cruijff

Winning silverware in the Netherlands (Ajax), Spain (Barcelona), and Germany (Köln), Michels is best known for winning the 1988 European Championship with the Netherlands. In addition, he reached the 1974 World Cup final with players such as Johan Cruijff, Johan Neeskens and Ruud Krol, in a style admired by many.

He influenced the way football was played, especially at Ajax and Barcelona (later further developed by Cruijff). Two clubs who have historically been known for their style of play. His teams’ use of ‘Total Football’ – a fluid tactical system in which players can take over each other’s roles, creating chaos for the opponent – and the offside trap have inspired many managers who came after him.

Especially the football vision of managers like Cruijff (who played under him) and Van Gaal were significantly influenced by Michels. Cruijff and Van Gaal in turn influenced Guardiola (played under both) and Koeman (played under Cruijff and was an assistant under Van Gaal).

Guardiola has made his mark on the Champions League (won it three times), La Liga (three times), the Bundesliga (three times) and the Premier League (six times). Dominating the Premier League in a way that few thought was possible. Using a playing style and system that is constantly subject to innovation and improvement, while having players capable of playing multiple roles. Elements common of Michels’ and Cruijff’s ‘Total Football’.

The ‘Dutch School’ and ‘Total Football’

The ‘Dutch School’ (Hollandse School) is often defined as attacking football in a 4-3-3 formation. However, more so it is the ‘Total Football’ concept that was played by Ajax between 1971-1973 and the Netherland at the 1974 World Cup.

It was not the use of new concepts, but rather the combination of various elements that made it innovative and a pleasure to watch. With elements such as having an extra man in midfield, position changes, many players in the box, fast pressing after turnovers, the offside trap, and 1-on-1 defending.

Dutch players in the Premier League

chart top ten most premier league appearances by dutch players

Even more than for his contributions to football as a manager, Cruijff was known for being one of the best to have ever played the game. He won the Ballon d’Or on three occasions (1971, 1973 and 1974). Only two other Dutch players won the prestigious award. Marco van Basten won it three times (1988, 1989 and 1992) as well, while Ruud Gullit once (1987). The latter being the only one of them to have played (49 matches) and managed (104) in the Premier League.

Gullit is just one of 149 Dutch players (as of July 2024) to have at least one appearance in the Premier League. With George Boateng having the most appearances (384) behind his name. The Ghana born midfielder has four senior caps for the Dutch national team and played for Coventry City, Aston Villa, Middlesbrough, and Hull City between 1997/98 and 2009/10.

Boateng made 69 more appearances than second on the list Dennis Bergkamp (315 appearances for Arsenal). The forward is well known for his elegance and technique and contributed to three of Arsenal’s Premier League titles. During the Gunners’ 1997/98 championship campaign, Bergkamp scored 24 percent (16 out of 68) of Arsenal’s goals. Add his 11 assists and he was involved in 40 percent of their goals (27 goal involvements). The second highest attacking contribution amongst the 15 Dutch players to have won the Premier League.

Only Robin van Persie had a higher contribution with 41 percent, when he scored 26 goals and assisted another 9 (out of 86 goals) during Manchester United’s 2012/13 winning season.

Goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar (Manchester United) and defender Nathan Aké (Manchester City) have each contributed to four championship campaigns. The most amongst Dutch players. With Jaap Stam (Manchester United) having three titles, just like Bergkamp.

Premier League championships won by Dutch players

Titles Player (club)
4 Nathan Aké (Manchester City)

Edwin van der Sar (Manchester United)

3 Dennis Bergkamp (Arsenal)

Jaap Stam (Manchester United)

2 Arjen Robben (Chelsea)

Raimond van der Gouw (Manchester United)

1 Marc Overmars & Giovanni van Bronckhorst (Arsenal)

Virgil van Dijk & Georginio Wijnaldum (Liverpool)

Nigel de Jong (Manchester City)

Alexander Büttner, Jordi Cruijff, Ruud van Nistelrooy & Robin van Persie (Manchester United)

Individual Premier League awards

chart dutch players with premier league player of the month awards

Twice was a Dutch player awarded Player of the Season in the Premier League. Ruud van Nistelrooy became the first in 2002/03 when he scored 25 goals and assisted another four (39 percent) of United’s goals in their championship campaign. That output also won him the Golden Boot (most goals in a season). During his five seasons at Old Trafford, he was awarded Player of the Month on three occasions.

The only other Dutch player to win Player of the Season is Virgil van Dijk. The Liverpool defender did so during the 2018/19 season, in which the Reds came second to Manchester City and conceded just 22 goals (league best). In December 2018, he also won his only Player of the Month award.

Individual seasonal awards won by Dutch players in the Premier League

Awards Player Amount (when) Club(s)
Player of the Season Ruud van Nistelrooy

Virgil van Dijk

2002/03

2018/19

Manchester United

Liverpool

Golden Boot Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink

Robin van Persie

Ruud van Nistelrooy

1998/99 & 2000/01

2011/12 & 2012/13

2002/03

Leeds United & Chelsea

Arsenal & Manchester United

Manchester United

Golden Glove Edwin van der Sar 2008/09 Manchester United

Robin van Persie has been awarded the most Player of the Month awards (five) amongst Dutch players (16 in total). The forward never won Player of the Season but did win the Golden Boot twice. In 2011/12 with Arsenal by scoring 30 goals and in 2012/13 for scoring 26 goals for United on their championship run.

Where Dutch managers are yet to win a Premier League title, 15 out of 149 (as of July 2024) Dutch players have had the honour of contributing to a championship campaign. Including six players on more than one occasion. One could say the impact of the Dutch on the Premier League has been limited compared to some other nations. However, the ‘Dutch school’ and ‘Total Football’ have had such an impact on football in general, that managers, players and tactics in the Premier League will have been indirectly influenced by it as well.