KNVB revamps U15 set‑up as critics fear Ajax and PSV bias

The Dutch football federation has scrapped the national under‑15 team’s regular fixtures, opting for a larger, long‑term training group, while some observers warn the new system could simply funnel more talent from the country’s biggest clubs such as Ajax and PSV. Wouter Buist, editor at, notes that the KNVB’s decision marks a "completely different approach" to youth development, aimed at slowing the rush to label the "best players". From the 2026/27 season the Oranje Under‑15 side will no longer play interlands; instead a sizeable cohort of players will train together and be monitored over an extended period. The KNVB has not disclosed the exact size of the group, but the principle is to keep a broader pool in view before moving to a selection environment focused on winning matches.

Technical manager Alexander Palland explains, "At this age development can be erratic, therefore we want larger groups of players kept in view longer before moving to a selection environment where winning matches is central." Coordinator of talent identification Bastiaan Riemersma adds, "We do not only look at who is furthest today, but especially at what a player can become."

Researcher’s take on talent

Sebastiaan Platvoet, a teacher and researcher at HAN Sport and Bewegen with a specialisation in "Talent", welcomes the new approach as a positive first step but cautions that defining talent remains complex. He says scientific literature describes talent as a player who outperforms peers and possesses future potential, yet admits the ability to assess that potential is "extremely poor".

Platvoet stresses that the biggest misconception is assuming the final level of a young player can be predicted. "We often link a youngster to the top hundred of the tennis world or to a Champions League career, but the end‑level is not predictable," he says.

Limits of early prediction

Een van de grootste misvattingen, is that early performance guarantees senior success. He cites Lamine Yamal and Lionel Messi as rare cases who stood out early and reached the pinnacle, while many others are missed by the system.

The KNVB points to Virgil van Dijk, Frenkie de Jong and Micky van de Ven – players who featured in few youth interlands yet rose to the international stage – as evidence that talent can emerge later.

Platvoet notes that predictions become more reliable after the growth spurt, when speed and strength can change dramatically. He also contributed to the "Rubrics on the Pitch" study, which found consensus on current performance but wide divergence on future potential assessments.

In his view, scouting must look beyond isolated statistics; as he puts it, "If you watch a match and a boy scores five balls while another plays half and scores none, you would not immediately declare the latter inferior." The contrast between the KNVB’s long‑term vision and the lingering fear of club‑centric bias highlights the challenge of nurturing future stars without premature labelling.