Van Marwijk extends Netherlands contract

Bert Van Marwijk, the Netherlands coach (GETTY IMAGES)

Coach Bert van Marwijk has extended his contract with the Netherlands until 2016.

A spokeswoman for the World Cup runner-up said Friday that Van Marwijk signed the four year extension Thursday night.

Van Marwijk took over the Dutch team in 2008 from Marco van Basten. Since then, the team has won 31 matches, drawn 10 and lost four. The highlight of his career so far was reaching the World Cup final last year in Johannesburg, where the Netherlands lost 1-0 to Spain thanks to an Andres Iniesta extra-time goal.

The Netherlands easily qualified for the European Championship in Poland and Ukraine, but has been drawn in a tough qualification group with Germany, Portugal and Denmark.

AP