Arne Slot had already thought of John Heitinga as his assistant coach, Mulder revealed. The trainer was reportedly "nearly there" with the KNVB, with a contract for two or four years on the table. However, Slot decided to step back from the position at the last moment.
The exact reason for Arne Slot's change of heart is unknown, but Mulder suggested that a difference of opinion over the contract duration may have played a role. "One of the stories is that it would be for two or four years," presenter Wytse van der Goot mentioned. Mulder found it hard to believe that the contract length alone would have been the deciding factor.
Mulder thinks that there must have been more to Slot's decision. "I don't think it was just that," he said. "I think he just thought: I'm not doing it." The exact reason for Slot's change of heart remains a mystery.
The Dutch national team is still searching for a new coach after Slot's decision to step back.