A calm, conservative figure, the 58-year-old Van Marwijk has kept faith with experienced players and with the formation and tactics that his predecessor, Marco van Basten, drew up.

Van Marwijk was a conventional winger during his 19-year playing career and won only one international cap, in 1975.

After seven years of coaching amateur teams, Van Marwijk joined top-flight Fortuna Sittard, taking them to the 1999 Dutch Cup final where they lost to Ajax Amsterdam.

His greatest successes came with Feyenoord and he led the side to the UEFA Cup trophy in 2002 before taking the Dutch Cup on his return to Rotterdam after a two-year stint with Borussia Dortmund in Germany.

When he took over the national side, Van Marwijk asked former internationals Frank de Boer and Phillip Cocu to assist him.

Regarded as approachable by his players, Van Marwijk should be able to boast a good relationship with influential midfielder Mark van Bommel as the player is married to his daughter, Andra.