'A woman is less credible than a man' - Sarina Wiegman's chances of managing a men's team are shot down by ex-Netherlands star Pierre van Hooijdonk as Wesley Sneijder insists the idea is 'going too far'

Former Dutch international Pierre van Hooijdonk says he cannot imagine England boss Wiegman managing a men's team as women have "less credibility" than a man, and he can't see a woman managing a Premier League side, either. Compatriot Wesley Sneijder agrees with the former striker, who suggested "we are going too far" with "forcing" women to coach men's teams.

Van Hooijdonk said on Studio Voetbal: "Do you really find that strange? The football world is a cocky world. I cannot imagine Sarina Wiegman entering the dressing room of a team with guests like Rafael van der Vaart. 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.

“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. 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."

Sneijder later added: "It's difficult for me to judge. I go back to being myself, to how I was then in the locker room. 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."

The debate over men's and women's football, and its coverage, has come to the fore following comments from Manchester City midfielder Joey Barton. After he wrote on social media, "Women shouldn't be talking with any kind of authority in the men's game," many have criticised his stance, with Chelsea boss Emma Hayes saying female footballers are exposed to "systemic misogyny" day in and day out.

The recent remarks by the aforementioned Dutch duo are likely to add fuel to the fire of this heated discourse that is playing out on social media and on TV. This topic of debate is likely to run on for quite some time as it is a hot button issue for ex-players, pundits, managers, the public, and more.