The Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB) identified Pep Guardiola as their primary target to become the national team coach. KNVB director of top sports, Nigel de Jong, revealed that Guardiola was approached first, but ultimately chose to take a sabbatical. As a result, Arne Slot emerged as the second option in their search for a new head coach. De Jong confirmed this information during an interview with NOS, detailing the timeline of their pursuit. The KNVB respected Guardiola’s decision to prioritize personal time. This disclosure offers insight into the association's strategic approach to securing a top-level manager for the Dutch national team. The search continues following Guardiola's unavailability.