Pierre van Hooijdonk says he cannot imagine England coach Sarina Wiegman taking charge of a men’s football team as female coaches have ‘less credibility’.

The former Netherlands, Celtic and Nottingham Forest striker made the controversial comments on a Dutch television show, adding he cannot envisage 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.

Wiegman has coached the Lionesses to European Championship success and a World Cup final.

Former Netherlands striker Pierre Van Hooijdonk said he ‘couldn’t imagine’ Lionesses coach Sarina Wiegman taking charge of a men’s team and that female manager ‘lacked credibility’

England coach Wiegman with her UEFA Coach of the Year award back in August

Van Hooijdonk was a guest on the Studio Voetbal show in the Netherlands during a debate on whether female coaches should take charge of male teams.

‘Do you really find that strange? The football world is a cocky world,’ he said.

‘I cannot imagine Sarina Wiegman entering the dressing room of a team with guests like Rafael van der Vaart [also on the show].

‘Why not? Well, then I wonder if you have ever been in a dressing 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 have no credibility, but they have less than a man. For me it’s not about who is better, it’s just how it is.’

Van Hooijdonk added: ‘Everything has to be broken these days. I think it can and does happen in many things in society, but a female head coach in the Premier League…

‘I think you really underestimate what effect that will have with regard to an away match with an audience.

Former Dutch international Wesley Sneijder told another show said football was ‘going too far’ with efforts 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. Women and men are equal for me, but I’m just pointing out what effect it would have on the football world. The football world is not society.’

Van der Vaart warned Van Hooijdonk his comments wouldn’t be well received, to which the former striker replied: ‘I’m not going for the popularity award.’

Fellow guest Sherida Spitse, who plays for Ajax Women and the Netherlands national side, said she regarded it as a ‘challenge’ to take charge of a men’s team.

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She added: ‘I hope Pierre is not proven right and I really think it will happen in the future.

‘Sarina Wiegman has qualities that can also work well in men’s football. You shouldn’t look at whether someone is a man or a woman, but just purely at their qualities.’

But the former Netherlands, Real Madrid and Ajax midfielder Sneijder agreed with Van Hooijdonk.

‘It’s difficult for me to judge. I go back to being myself, to how I was then in the locker room,’ he told the Veronica Offside show.

Va Hooijdonk celebrates scoring a goal for Nottingham Forest during his playing days

‘Maybe now I’ve changed, but I haven’t. I imagine I would have 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 do we have to 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 are forcing it now and it is counterproductive.’

It came after former Manchester City midfielder Barton, who was recently sacked by League One Bristol Rovers, launched a misogynistic rant on social media over female pundits.

Barton seemingly took offence to Amazon Prime Video’s use of broadcasters such as Gabby Logan, Eniola Aluko, Robyn Cowen and Siobhan Chamberlain on their Premier League coverage.

Joey Barton shared a series of misogynistic posts on social media last week

In two separate posts he hit out at both women commentators and pundits across football

Barton first tweeted: ‘Women shouldn’t be talking with any kind 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 thriving. Fantastic to see. I cannot take a thing they say serious in the men’s arena #namaste.’

Just seven minutes later, he then added: ‘Any man who listens to Women commentary or co-comms needs their heads testing… #sticktoyourowngame.’

Barton has since doubled down on his comments repeatedly, sparking a furious debate.