Hiddink backs Wiegman for Ajax but urges a modest start

On a breezy evening at De Oranjezomer, former Dutch national coach Guus Hiddink and ex‑Ajax manager Henk ten Cate weighed in on the prospect of Sarina Wiegman taking the reins at Ajax, sparking a debate about whether the women’s World Cup winner should start her men’s‑team career at the Eredivisie giants or a smaller club. Henk ten Cate opened the discussion by stressing a “fundamental difference” between coaching men and women. He compared the standard of a women’s side to the B1 level of Ajax, saying “the level of a women’s team is about the level of the B1 of Ajax or something in that spirit.” He noted that working with “absolute top players” in the men’s game involves a different intensity. He added that such players “hit a different level and are used to different things.”

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Guus Hiddink countered that Wiegman could already manage a top‑level side. He recalled awarding her the oeuvre prize last year and saying it would be nice if she eventually coached a men’s team. He advised that she step onto an Eredivisie level, but that “something lower than Ajax is also good.” He framed the move as a gradual progression onto a “good level” in men’s football.

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The exchange highlights a growing conversation in Dutch football about gender barriers in coaching. If Wiegman were to accept a role at Ajax or a lower‑tier Eredivisie club, it could set a precedent for more women to enter the men’s professional coaching ranks.