Leaving Portugal, Roberto Martínez is set to take charge of a European powerhouse.

Roberto Martínez has surprisingly become a top contender to succeed Ronald Koeman, with the mission of bringing the Netherlands back to the top of European football following a long trophy drought.

The Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB) is reportedly considering Roberto Martínez as a surprise candidate to replace Ronald Koeman. According to De Telegraaf, senior football director Nigel de Jong met with the Spanish coach in Málaga during the search for a new head coach.

This move indicates that the KNVB is broadening its options after several Dutch coaches fell out of consideration. Arne Slot was once seen as a strong candidate but prefers to remain at club level. Peter Bosz, Erik ten Hag, and U21 coach Michael Reiziger were also previously considered.

If appointed, Martínez would offer a completely different option for the Dutch national team. Since Ernst Happel, the Austrian coach who led the Netherlands to the 1978 World Cup final, the team has not employed a foreign manager.

Martínez brings extensive experience at the international level. During his tenure with Belgium, he guided the "Red Devils" to third place at the 2018 World Cup, the team's best-ever result in the tournament. However, his spell ended in disappointment as Belgium were eliminated in the group stage of the 2022 World Cup.

Afterward, Martínez took charge of Portugal in 2023 and quickly secured the 2025 Nations League title. Nevertheless, he parted ways with the team after Portugal's exit from the World Cup.

If he takes over the Netherlands, Martínez's biggest challenge will be turning a highly talented generation of players into a cohesive unit capable of competing for trophies. The Dutch national team has not won a major title since EURO 1988, despite regularly possessing quality players.

The KNVB hopes that Martínez's experience with top national teams will help solve the team's performance issues. However, questions will be raised about his ability to handle pressure, as the failures of Belgium and Portugal at major tournaments remain significant drawbacks.

If the deal goes through, Martínez could spark a revolution on the Dutch coaching bench. This would be a notable shift in mindset, but success will only be measured by his ability to bring the "Oranje" back among the contenders for European titles.