Former Holland striker Pierre van Hooijdonk backs 'tough guy' Henk ten Cate to take charge of national team

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Former Holland and Nottingham Forest striker Pierre van Hooijdonk has put his support behind Henk ten Cate for the vacant role as national team manager, claiming he has the necessary mental toughness. 

Holland have begun their search for a third new manager since the 2014 World Cup, after both Guus Hiddink and Danny Blind failed to enjoy successful qualifying campaigns during their respective tenures.

The national team have plummeted to No 32 in the FIFA rankings, their lowest place, after a dismal run of results culminated in a 2-0 defeat in Bulgaria which leaves them fourth in their World Cup qualifying group.

Henk ten Cate could be approached by the Dutch FA over the vacant managerial job

Holland are in danger of not qualifying for the 2018 World Cup with the side fourth in the group

Holland currently trail France, Sweden and Bulgaria in Group A of the World Cup qualifiers

Interim coach Fred Grim took charge of the 2-1 friendly defeat by Italy at the Amsterdam Arena last month, but he is not expected to be in the running for the job on a permanent basis.

Holland play an end-of-season friendly against Morocco on May 31, but the Dutch FA have stepped up their quest for a new boss, and former striker van Hooijdonk believes the country will have to look at alternatives to the best option. 

'Immediately you always look at the best coach we've got and I think at the moment that is Ronald Koeman,' he told Omnisport. 

Former Holland striker Pierre van Hooijdonk wants to see ten Cate appraoched over the role

Holland failed to reach their potential in qualifying under former manager Danny Blind

'Koeman is in a job at Everton and so he's not an option, he declared himself as a non-candidate. Frank de Boer is without a club, but he just wants to continue at club level, so he ruled himself out. People are talking about Van Gaal again, I don't think that he will take it.' 

Van Hooijdonk, who scored 14 goals in 46 caps for his country, has called for straight-talking Al Jazira boss Ten Cate to replace Blind, suggesting the 62-year-old has the no-nonsense approach needed to stop the rot. 

'So, we look at an experienced coach who has been at big clubs and one of my favourite candidates is Henk ten Cate, who has been at Chelsea and Barcelona. I see him as one of the main candidates.

Gerginio Wijnaldum has struggled alongside his compatriots in the orange shirt this season

Straight-talking Al Jazira boss Ten Cate could be the perfect fit for the current national set up

'He can be the tough guy, he doesn't care about reputation, although we only have two players with a reputation [Arjen Robben and Wesley Sneijder].

'This group, in my opinion, needs a strong hand and that is something that may have been missing. Although, I must also say that Blind did have bad luck with injuries and illness at crucial points.' 

Holland resume their campaign at home to Luxembourg in June, six points behind leaders France in Group A with five games remaining.