User:TheBigJagielka/KNVB Academy

The KNVB Academy is the Educational Department of the Royal Netherlands Football Association (KNVB). As a small European country with a limited number of active players, the KNVB has developed an extensive football training and development programme since the 1960s, now part of the ‘KNVB Academy’.

The KNVB Academy was founded in 1996 to concentrate all educational programs for Dutch football in one body, and is headquartered at Zeist. The operations of the KNVB Academy are focused on development of coaches, referees and administrators in The Netherlands. Dutch coaching diplomas are UEFA approved.

Despite a relatively small population of 16.5 million, the Netherlands has enjoyed considerable success in international tournaments, including World Cup finals in 1974 and 1978 and the European title in 1988. Dutch coaches are also highly respected internationally, such as Guus Hiddink, Rinus Michels and Louis van Gael.