Tuesday 13 October 2015 21:17, UK
The Dutch Football Association made an error in failing to appoint Southampton manager Ronald Koeman as Louis van Gaal's successor, according to George Boateng.
Having led the Netherlands to third place at the 2014 World Cup, Van Gaal joined Manchester United as manager, with replacement Guus Hiddink embarking on his second spell as national team manager before current incumbent Danny Blind took charge in July.
The Dutch have since gone on to endure an awful Euro 2016 qualification campaign and look set to miss out on the tournament for the first time since 1984.
They head into their final Group A qualifier on Tuesday needing to beat the Czech Republic to keep their slim play-off hopes alive, although should Turkey avoid defeat at home to Iceland they will be eliminated.
And, speaking on Sky Sports News HQ, former Aston Villa, Middlesbrough and Dutch international Boateng lamented the decision not to appoint Koeman.
"We need to look at our managerial structure," he said. "We have good players and the squad is 80 percent of the players that performed at the World Cup where we ever did so well.
"I said before the Dutch FA made an error by appointing Guus Hiddink to replace Louis van Gaal, following his appointment as Manchester United manager.
"That is not to say Guus is a bad manager, he is a fantastic manager, a father figure when it comes to the national team.
"However, looking back I feel his time was up and Ronald Koeman was the perfect candidate to take the job. Southampton have excelled fantastically under Koeman and he would have been the right man for the job."
Asked whether Koeman could take over as Dutch manager in the future, Boateng added: "I don't think Ronald would even consider coming to take the national team job now.
"He has moved on from there and there are bigger and better clubs in the Premier League for him after Southampton, that's the reality.
"He has got huge potential to be a top coach in England and he has different ambitions."
Current Netherlands boss Blind now faces the almost impossible task of salvaging something from their dismal qualification campaign, as well as overseeing the rebuilding project that follows.
And Boateng, while resigned the Dutch will not be taking part in France next year, has voiced his support for Blind to lead the recovery.
He added: "It is devastating to think that a European Championships will take place without Holland, it will not be the same.
"When I look at the table it is very hard to take, the group is not even hard. When the draw was made we were strong favourites to win the group, now we are looking to the play-offs to qualify.
"There is still reason to be optimistic because in football you never know and, until the last game is played, you still have to have hope.
"Saying that, looking at the situation and the form Turkey are in at the moment, I don't see them not winning the game against Iceland.
"We have to move on now, though. Danny Blind has got the opportunity and he is the right guy to take the side forward and he should stay in charge for the World cup qualification."
Watch Netherlands v Czech Republic live on Tuesday, 7:40pm, Sky Sports 5 HD
