LONDON, July 1 (Bernama-PA Media/dpa) -- Ronald Koeman has stepped down as coach of the Netherlands for the second time after they were knocked out of the 2026 World Cup on penalties by Morocco.
Koeman, 63, had previously managed his country between 2018 and 2020 before leaving to take over at Barcelona.
In a statement issued by the Dutch Football Federation on Instagram, Koeman said: “Precisely because I have worked so closely and intensively with this coaching staff and this group of players for such a long time, this was not an easy decision to make.
“I am grateful and would like to express my sincere appreciation for the dedication shown by everyone involved with Oranje during both of my periods as head coach.
“I have decided that now is the right time to spend more time with my wife, children, and grandchildren. At this moment, it feels like the right and most natural decision.”
The Netherlands cruised into the last 32 after finishing on top of Group F, including an emphatic 5-1 win over Sweden.
And they were less than a minute away from continuing their run into the last 16 before Issa Diop’s injury-time equalizer sent their game against Morocco into extra time.
--BERNAMA-PA MEDIA/dpa
