Van Basten returns to 'Oranje' as assistant coach

The Hague, July 10 (IANS): Marco van Basten returns to the staff of the Dutch national team, as assistant of new head coach Danny Blind, the Dutch football association KNVB announced.

The 50-year-old former Dutch international will leave his post as assistant of AZ Alkmaar and will join the national team as of August 1 until July 31, 2018.

On the same day of the start of Van Basten's contract, Blind, too, will begin as new head coach, Xinhua reported, citing KNVB.

Blind succeeded Guus Hiddink who left last month. Ruud van Nistelrooy stays on as the other assistant of Blind.

"I am looking forward to this interesting job and the cooperation with Blind," said Van Basten in a statement.

"I had to make a difficult choice, because I really liked my role at AZ. The challenge at the Dutch team made me make this choice."

Basten began his coaching career at the reserves team of Ajax in 2003 and from 2004 he became coach of the Dutch national team for four years, leading "Oranje" at the 2006 World Cup and Euro 2008.

After that he was coach at Ajax for the 2008/2009 season and in 2012 he returned as coach of SC Heerenveen.