Koeman Slams Dutch League Quality Ahead of Norway Clash

March 25, 2026 Alex Carter - Sports Editor Sport

Dutch Coach Koeman Voices Concern Over Declining Domestic League Quality Ahead of Norway Match

ALKMAAR, Netherlands – Netherlands national team manager Ronald Koeman has expressed concern over the declining quality of the Dutch Eredivisie, just days before a friendly match against Norway on Friday. Koeman’s assessment came after a press conference following a training session in Alkmaar, as reported by Nettavisen.

Koeman’s comments followed a recent “De Klassieker” – the high-profile match between Ajax and Feyenoord – which he described as not being a “solid Klassieker” and indicative of a broader decline in the league’s overall standard. “I look at it with concern, for quite a lot of quality has been lost there,” Koeman stated, according to reports from Telegraaf.

The Netherlands’ domestic struggles stand in contrast to the recent success of Norwegian clubs, particularly Bodø/Glimt, in European competitions. Koeman warned that the current trajectory could have long-term consequences for Dutch football, potentially costing the nation places in European tournaments.

Both Ajax and Feyenoord experienced disappointing campaigns in European competitions this season. Ajax failed to advance from the Champions League group stage, securing only six points, while Feyenoord suffered the same fate in the Europa League, also finishing with six points from eight matches.

Despite the concerns surrounding the Dutch league, Koeman is preparing to face a Norway side led by Ståle Solbakken, who in 2020 became the head coach of the Norwegian national team, as noted by Store norske leksikon. Solbakken led Norway to qualification for the 2026 World Cup, the nation’s first appearance since 1998, as confirmed by Wikipedia.

Solbakken downplayed the impact of the Dutch league’s issues on the upcoming match, stating that the Netherlands has “double coverage on all positions” and that even with injuries to key players, they possess ample depth. He specifically mentioned players like Denzel Dumfries and Patrick van de Ven as readily available replacements.

Koeman’s squad is also dealing with injury concerns, with doubts surrounding the availability of forward Memphis Depay. The Netherlands will host Norway at Johan Cruyff Arena on Saturday as part of their preparations for the upcoming international tournaments.