Dutch media have reported that Anoush Dastgir, the former head coach of Afghanistan’s national football team, has been named head coach of the Netherlands U-18 national team.
The 35-year-old coach from Afghanistan previously served as interim head coach for Almere City FC in the Dutch Eredivisie. Speaking to Dutch outlets, Dastgir, who has taken a long journey to reach this position, said, “I will definitely share my story with these young talents.”
Dastgir has consistently expressed his hope that Afghanistan will one day have a professional, standard football league. In his latest Facebook post, he wrote:
“If I can create a place anywhere in Afghanistan where children can play sports, be happy, and forget their pain and suffering for a moment, that will be the day I consider myself a true and successful coach.”