Pierre Van Hooijdonk says female coaches have ‘less credibility’ than men and he ‘couldn’t imagine’ Lionesses boss Sarina Wiegman in a male dressing room… and Wesley Sneijder agrees with him!
Pierre van Hooijdonk says he cannot imagine English coach Sarina Wiegman taking charge of a men's football team because female coaches have 'less credibility'.
The former Netherlands, Celtic and Nottingham Forest striker made the controversial comments on a Dutch television show, adding that he cannot imagine a female boss in the Premier League either.
His compatriot Wesley Sneijder agreed with Van Hooijdonk, telling another show 'we are going too far' in forcing women to coach men's teams.
It follows Joey Barton's comments about female football pundits giving their opinions on the men's game, which sparked a fierce backlash.
Wiegman has coached the Lionesses to European Championship success and a World Cup final.
Former Dutch striker Pierre Van Hooijdonk said he 'couldn't imagine' Lionesses coach Sarina Wiegman taking charge of a men's team and that the female manager 'had no credibility'
English coach Wiegman received her UEFA Coach of the Year award in August
Van Hooijdonk was a guest at the Studio Football show in the Netherlands during a debate about whether female coaches should take charge of male teams.
'Do you really find that strange? The football world is a stubborn world,” he said.
'I can't imagine Sarina Wiegman entering the dressing room of a team with guests like Rafael van der Vaart (also in the show).
'Why not? Well, then I wonder if you've ever been in a locker room. We can say it, right?
'For me it's about a bit of credibility that you have to have towards your group of players.
“I'm not saying they don't have credibility, but they have less than one man. For me it's not about who is better, it's about what it is like.'
Van Hooijdonk adds: 'Everything has to be destroyed these days. I think it can and will happen with many things in society, but a female head coach in the Premier League…
'I think you really underestimate the effect that has on an away match with an audience.
Former Dutch international Wesley Sneijder told another show that football is 'going too far' with attempts to put women in charge of men's teams
Dutch coach Wiegman coached England to European Championship success in 2022
'It doesn't have to happen for me either. To me, women and men are equal, but I'm just pointing out the effect it would have on the football world. The football world is not a society.'
Van der Vaart warned Van Hooijdonk that his comments would not be well received, to which the former striker replied: “I am not going for the popularity prize.”
Fellow guest Sherida Spitse, who plays for Ajax Women and the Dutch national team, said she saw it as a 'challenge' to take charge of a men's team.
She added: 'I hope Pierre is not proven right and I really think this will happen in the future.
'Sarina Wiegman has qualities that can also be used well in men's football. You should not look at whether someone is a man or a woman, but purely at his qualities.'
But former Netherlands, Real Madrid and Ajax midfielder Sneijder agreed with Van Hooijdonk.
'I find it difficult to judge. “I'm going back to myself, to how I was in the dressing room then,” he told the club Veronica offside show.
Va Hooijdonk celebrates scoring a goal for Nottingham Forest during his playing days
'Maybe I've changed now, but I haven't. I imagine having a coach. I have nothing against women, but we are going too far.
'I heard it said that we have to break something now. Why? What should we break?
“If it happens, it will happen, but we are forcing it too much. The fact that we are talking about it now is already too much.
“Maybe it will happen, but we're forcing it now and it's counterproductive.”
It came after former Manchester City midfielder Barton, who was recently sacked by League One Bristol Rovers, launched a misogynistic tirade on social media about female pundits.
Barton apparently took umbrage at Amazon Prime Video's use of broadcasters such as Gabby Logan, Eniola Aluko, Robyn Cowen and Siobhan Chamberlain in their Premier League coverage.
Joey Barton shared a series of misogynistic posts on social media last week
In two separate posts, he targeted both female commentators and experts in football
Barton first tweeted: 'Women should not speak with any form of authority in the men's game. Come on. Let's be serious.
'It's a completely different game. If you don't accept that. We will always see things differently.
“The women's game is flourishing. Fantastic to see. I can't take anything they say seriously in the men's arena #namaste.”
Just seven minutes later, he added: “Any man who listens to women's commentary or co-comms needs to test his mind… #sticktoyourowngame.”
Barton has since repeatedly doubled down on his comments, sparking furious debate.