Netherlands men's national team coaching staff complete

The coaching staff around Xavi Hernández, the new head coach of the Netherlands men’s national team, has been finalised. - Foto: KNVB Media

The coaching staff around new head coach Xavi Hernández has been finalised. Sergio Alegre, Óscar Hernández, Ruud van Nistelrooij and Adil Ramzi will join as assistant coaches. Patrick Lodewijks returns as goalkeeping coach, while Iván Torres completes the staff as performance coach. Van Nistelrooij and Lodewijks were also part of the coaching staff during the World Cup earlier this year and will return under Xavi in their familiar roles.

Complementary coaching staff

Xavi Hernández on the composition of his coaching staff: “I think it is important to have people around me with different qualities, backgrounds and perspectives who complement each other. I have worked with Sergio, Óscar and Iván for a long time and they know my way of working very well. At the same time, I greatly value the Dutch expertise we have with Ruud, Adil and Patrick. Everyone has their own role and expertise. Whether it is attacking, defending, set pieces or other areas of the game, we want to support the players in the best possible way in every aspect.”

Strengthening each other

Director of Elite Football Nigel de Jong explains how the staff was put together in close consultation with Xavi: “From the very first conversations, we looked together at what was needed to support Xavi and the players in the best possible way. The international windows are becoming longer and more intensive. With this staff, we can divide our attention effectively and continue to safeguard individual support, both during the windows and beyond.

“We are deliberately combining existing knowledge with new impulses. Ruud and Patrick know Dutch football well, Adil also knows the next generation coming through from his previous work with the national youth teams, and Sergio, Óscar and Iván are fully familiar with Xavi and his way of working. This has allowed us to put together a staff in which different qualities, backgrounds and experiences strengthen each other.”

Sergio Alegre, Óscar Hernández and Iván Torres

Alegre, Hernández and Torres were part of the coaching staff at both Al-Sadd and FC Barcelona, where Xavi previously served as head coach. Sergio Alegre and Óscar Hernández, Xavi’s brother and long-time right-hand man, were assistant coaches at both clubs. Before his time at Al-Sadd, Hernández worked as a coach at the Aspire Academy in Qatar. Alegre previously worked in FC Barcelona’s academy and also served as assistant coach of the Qatar national team. Torres was fitness coach at both clubs and also gained experience in England, including at Leeds United.

Ruud van Nistelrooij

Van Nistelrooij returned to the Netherlands men’s national team as assistant coach in February 2026 and will remain part of the coaching staff in that role. He previously held the position between 2014 and 2016 and during UEFA EURO 2020. As a player, Van Nistelrooij played 70 matches for the Dutch national team and scored 35 international goals. After his playing career, he worked at clubs including PSV, Manchester United and Leicester City.

Adil Ramzi

Ramzi makes the move within the KNVB from the Netherlands Under-19s to the Netherlands men’s national team. He joined the KNVB in 2024 as coach of the Netherlands Under-18s and moved up with that age group to the Under-19s a year later. Before that, he worked at PSV, among other roles, as assistant coach of the first team and head coach of Jong PSV. As a player, Ramzi represented clubs including PSV, AZ and FC Twente. He also has 37 caps for Morocco.

Patrick Lodewijks

Lodewijks was also the goalkeeping coach of the Netherlands men’s national team during the previous cycle. He previously held that role from 2014 to 2015 and from 2018 to 2021. As a goalkeeper, Lodewijks played for PSV, FC Groningen and Feyenoord. After his playing career, he worked as a goalkeeping coach at Feyenoord, Everton and the Netherlands men’s national team, among others.