The Netherlands Football Association is in talks with former Portugal manager Roberto Martinez about becoming the new head coach of the national team, according to a report in the Dutch media.
Martinez, who is also a former manager of Belgium, has become the leading candidate for the position, says Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf. The 56-year-old is understood to have held discussions with Niels de Jong, the Dutch football association’s sporting director, in Malaga.
The talks form part of the association’s search for a successor to Ronald Koeman, who resigned after the 2026 World Cup. The Netherlands failed to achieve the results they had hoped for at the tournament, prompting the process to appoint a new manager.
Michael Reiziger had been regarded as the strongest contender until recently. However, the situation appears to have changed in the past few hours, with Dutch reports increasingly focusing on Martinez as a possible replacement for Koeman.
Louis van Gaal has also been linked with the role and is reported to have offered his services. The former Netherlands manager is another candidate being considered as the association reviews its options for the senior men’s team.
Martinez officially left his post as Portugal manager in July 2026, after his side were beaten 1-0 by Spain and eliminated in the last 16 of the 2026 World Cup.
His departure brought an end to his time in charge of Portugal, while the latest reports suggest he could now be close to taking on another major international job in Europe.
Martinez is also said to have a close relationship with Jordi Cruyff, the current general secretary of Ajax. Jordi Cruyff is a supporter of the football philosophy associated with his father, Johan Cruyff, a connection that may be relevant as the Dutch association considers its preferred approach for the national team.
The coming days are expected to be decisive as the discussions continue. Martinez’s experience with both Portugal and Belgium, along with his reported contact with the Dutch football association, has placed him at the centre of the search for Koeman’s successor.