Ruud Gullit slams Dutch FA for appointing Guus Hiddink over Ronald Koeman

Netherlands legend Ruud Gullit has slammed the "cowardly" Dutch Football Association (KNVB) for putting Guus Hiddink in charge of the national team ahead of Ronald Koeman.

Hiddink has endured a tough start to his reign since replacing Louis van Gaal in the summer as the Dutch have lost two of their three Euro 2016 qualifiers.

The 67-year-old was named as Van Gaal's successor as early as March, and Gullit has criticised the KNVB for overlooking Koeman - now Southampton boss - for the position.

"The association passed up the opportunity to rejuvenate the team", Gullit wrote in De Telegraaf. "I would have opted for Koeman.

"This generation of players know him. I do not understand why the association chose Hiddink. It was a cowardly decision and I put the blame on the KNVB."

The Netherlands sit third in Group A, six points behind co-leaders Iceland and Czech Republic.