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Winston Bogarde strengthens the Dutch Juniors' technical staff
Teams 25 September 2026

Winston Bogarde strengthens the Dutch Juniors' technical staff

Winston Bogarde has been appointed as an assistant at the Dutch Juniors with immediate effect. Together with national coach Michael Reiziger, Bogarde is working on the preparations for the new qualifying block for the European Under-21 Championship. Bogarde brings a lot of experience as a player and trainer, including at Ajax and abroad.

Winston Bogarde strengthens the technical staff of the Dutch Juniors

According to Vi.

Background

Winston Bogarde, a former Dutch international, has had an impressive career, both as a player and a trainer. His experience at clubs such as Ajax, Barcelona and Chelsea, as well as his previous role as an assistant at Jong Ajax, makes him a valuable asset to the Dutch Juniors. Together with Michael Reiziger, who also has a rich history in Dutch football, Bogarde will work to guide the talents of the Dutch Juniors to the highest level.

Why this matters

The appointment of Winston Bogarde as assistant at the Dutch Juniors is of great importance for the development of young talents in Dutch football. With his wealth of experience as a player at top clubs such as Ajax and Chelsea, and his previous collaboration with Michael Reiziger, he can provide valuable insights to the emerging generation. This is crucial as the Dutch Juniors prepare for the qualifications for the European Under-21 Championship, where success can influence the future of these talents.

Key points

  • Winston Bogarde strengthens the Dutch Juniors' technical staff.
  • Winston Bogarde has been appointed as an assistant at the Dutch Juniors with immediate effect.
  • Reiziger welcomes Bogarde to the technical staff of the Dutch Juniors.

The Dutch Juniors have added an experienced force to the technical staff with the arrival of Winston Bogarde. The 55-year-old Bogarde, former Dutch international and defender of major clubs such as Ajax, Barcelona and Chelsea, immediately supports national coach Michael Reiziger. Bogarde's appointment comes because Leeroy Echteld was recently appointed as head coach of AZ, which created a vacancy in the Jong Oranje staff.

Bogarde and Reiziger are not an unknown duo to each other. They worked together at Jong Ajax and in the technical staff of Ajax's first team under the leadership of Erik ten Hag. Their combined experience, both as players and in coaching roles, is now being used to guide the youthful selection of the Dutch Juniors during the qualifying series for the European Under-21 Championship.

Reiziger reacts enthusiastically to the arrival of his old acquaintance: "I have previously enjoyed working with Winston. He brings a lot of experience, both as a player and a trainer, and knows what is required at the highest level. With his knowledge and experience, he is a valuable addition to our staff," the national coach told the KNVB.

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Bogarde is also looking forward to his new role: "It is a talented group of players who are busy moving towards the highest level. I know Michael well from our time together at Ajax. I am very much looking forward to contributing to the development and performance of this team together with him and the rest of the staff."

The other members of the technical staff consist of Saïd Bakkati, who also works at Feyenoord, as a second assistant, and Khalid Benlahsen as goalkeeping coach. With the arrival of Bogarde, the Reiziger team is complete again for the upcoming qualifying matches.

Bogarde was recently active as an assistant to Henk ten Cate atnational team of Suriname, and after leaving Ajax worked with Patrick Kluivert at the Turkish Adana Demirspor. His extensive international experience is now being used in the hunt for a place at the European Under-21 Championship.

The Dutch Juniors' qualifying campaign will resume soon. The Netherlands is traditionally an important breeding ground for young talent and would like to qualify for the final tournament again. With Bogarde as extra support in the staff, the Dutch Juniors hope to strengthen their ambitions.

What's happening now

With Bogarde on board, the Dutch Juniors will focus on optimizing the players' performance in the run-up to the qualifying series. The collaboration between Bogarde and Reiziger, which was previously successful at Jong Ajax, is expected to strengthen the team's cohesion and strategy. The coming matches will determine how effective this new staff is in their hunt for a ticket for the European Under-21 Championship, with a view to the 2026 Final del Mundial.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened to the technical staff of the Dutch Juniors?

Winston Bogarde has been added to the technical staff of the Dutch Juniors led by Michael Reiziger.

Who confirmed the arrival of Winston Bogarde?

National coach Michael Reiziger has confirmed the arrival of Winston Bogarde.

Why has Winston Bogarde been appointed now?

Bogarde was appointed because Leeroy Echteld was recently appointed head coach of AZ, which created a vacancy in the Jong Oranje staff.

What changes are there in the technical staff of the Dutch Juniors?

With the arrival of Winston Bogarde, the staff has been expanded, and he joins Michael Reiziger, Saïd Bakkati and Khalid Benlahsen.

What is the role of Winston Bogarde at the Dutch Juniors?

Bogarde will guide the youthful selection of the Dutch Juniors during the qualifying series for the European Under-21 Championship.

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