Dutch Soccer Secrets

What is the secret of Dutch Soccer? How can a nation of about 16 million inhabitants regularly produce world-class players like Cruyff, Haan, van Basten, Rijkaard, van Nistelrooy, van der Sar, van Bommel, Robben and van Persie, as well as world-class coaches like Michels, Cruyff, Beenakker, Advocaat, Stevens and van Marwijk? What lies behind the successes of Ajax Amsterdam, of Louis van Gaal and of Dutch soccer manager Guus Hiddink? This book is a first attempt to present expert knowledge of internationally proven useful and effective Dutch soccer coaching in theory and practice, based on qualitative data collection. The authors outline the theory and practice of the “typical” and sometimes unique Dutch content, methods, organization forms and elements of educational knowledge, including the training philosophy of the KNVB (Royal Dutch Soccer Federation), selected Eredivisie and internationally renowned Dutch soccer coaches; unique technique training content and methods (Coerver, Meulensteen and Frans Hoek Methods) and tactics training (position play and pressing forward); innovative forms of play and testing for soccer-specific conditioning training; the new Ajax coaching model “Heroes of the Future” and interviews.