Kazakhstan has struck a deal with Dutch coach John van ’t Schip to lead the national football team. The former Ajax manager takes charge as the country looks to build a more competitive side on the international stage.
The Kazakhstan Football Federation (KFF) said on Friday it had reached an agreement with Dutch coach John van ’t Schip to become the new head coach of the men’s national football team. The KFF executive committee is yet to clear it «in the coming days.»
Van ’t Schip takes over from the previous coaching staff, with former Kazakhstan internationals Nurbol Zhumaskaliyev and Yeldos Akhmetov on board as assistant coaches.
The appointment comes at a time when Kazakhstan is working to create a more uniform football system. FIFA recently ranked Kazakhstan 111th in the world. Compared to regional teams, it trails behind Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan but is ahead of Turkmenistan.
What is known of John van ’t Schip
Dutch football has been an integral part of Van ‘t Schip’s career. He won the 1988 European Championship while playing for Ajax and Genoa. After retiring, he became a coach, first at Ajax’s academy and then for various clubs and national teams.
The 62-year-old has plenty of international club experience, having previously coached Guadalajara and Melbourne City. His most recent stint managing a national team was from 2019 to 2021 in Greece, before going on to coach the Armenian national team.
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