Former Indonesia national team assistant coach Alex Pastoor has reportedly declined offers to manage mid-table Dutch clubs, despite being unemployed for eight months.

Pastoor’s name remains popular among several Eredivisie clubs, with earlier rumours linking him to FC Utrecht, even though no official talks took place.

Recently, Pastoor has once again been associated with other Eredivisie teams, many of which are struggling near the bottom of the standings.

His name emerged following Rick Kruys’s departure from FC Volendam, but the former assistant to Patrick Kluivert showed no interest in taking the job.

Volendam parted ways with Kruys after being relegated to the second division, and Pastoor was considered one of the ideal candidates to replace him.

Although he shares a history with the club known as “Other Orange,” Pastoor appeared reluctant to return to Volendam when the offer was made.

“It would be wonderful to work at a club that I truly love and where I first entered professional football,” said Pastoor.

“However, right now I’m looking for something I’ve never done before — a challenge that’s different from this,” he added.

Pastoor is well respected in Dutch football, having managed several clubs such as NEC Nijmegen, Sparta Rotterdam, and Almere City.

He clarified that his decision to reject Volendam’s offer had nothing to do with salary, but rather his desire to wait for the right moment to return.

“I’ve received quite a few direct and indirect offers,” Pastoor explained.

“For me, the most important thing is to have as much fun as possible with the people around me.”

“I’m waiting for the right time — it’s not about the money,” he emphasised.

Pastoor mentioned that Volendam could one day be the place where he ends his professional coaching career.

However, for now, he insists that his ambitions remain high and he wants to compete at the top level.

“Volendam would be a wonderful place to end my career, but I’ve already faced a similar challenge before,” he said.

“I’m still too ambitious for that at this moment,” Pastoor concluded.

Pastoor was dismissed by the PSSI in October 2025 after the Indonesia national team failed to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, alongside Patrick Kluivert and Danny Landzaat.

He was once praised by Indonesian fans, who viewed him as the tactical mind behind the national team’s playing style.

However, public opinion shifted when he stated that it was unrealistic for Indonesia to qualify for the World Cup while still ranked outside the top 100 in FIFA’s standings.