Netherlands assistant coach Marco van Basten "is to give up the role by the end of the year as the leadership crisis surrounding the side took another twist on Tuesday," a week before the team kicks off its 2018 World Cup campaign, according to Mark Gleeson of REUTERS. Van Basten is "the second of Danny Blind's assistants to announce their departure in the last two weeks" after Dick Advocaat opted to take over as head coach of Turkish side Fenerbahce. The Dutch FA (KNVB) confirmed the 51-year-old's "impending exit" on Tuesday. Van Basten said in a KNVB statement, "FIFA have offered me a chance to work in the development and reform of football, and to use my ideas and opinions over issues like playing rules, refereeing and development programs. I have agreed with Danny Blind to stay as an assistant until the end of the year." The loss of his deputy is "the latest blow for Blind, who had asked another former European Footballer of the Year, Ruud Gullit, to assist him, only for negotiations to break down." The Netherlands starts its campaign to reach the 2018 World Cup finals away at Sweden next Tuesday (REUTERS, 8/30).
