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Van Hanegem extends Dutch deal

Willem van Hanegem will remain as assistant coach of the Netherlands national team until at least 2006.

By Berend Scholten

Willem van Hanegem has extended his contract as assistant Netherlands coach until the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany.

Two assistants
The former Dutch international signed a deal with the Royal Netherlands Football Association (KNVB) on Thursday and is looking forward to helping manager Dick Advocaat take charge of the team at UEFA EURO 2004™ this summer. The 60-year-old has held the post since February 2002 but is expected to work alongside another assistant coach in Portugal as the KNVB want to draft in extra support for the national side for Europe's showpiece competition.

Neeskens in line
Johan Neeskens has emerged as the frontruner for the position after Ruud Gullit, Marco van Basten and Jan Wouters turned it down. The NEC Nijmegen coach has already performed the role under Guus Hiddink at the 1998 World Cup and Frank Rijkaard at UEFA EURO 2000™.

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