Ronald Koeman resigns as Dutch national team boss after crashing out of World Cup | OneFootball

Morocco beat Der Oranje on penalties and head coach stepped down shortly after

Ronald Koeman has resigned from his post as head coach of the Dutch national team after being dumped out of the World Cup by Morocco.

The Dutch were not entirely convincing in group play and fell at the first hurdle in the knockout rounds. Their meeting with Morocco in Guadalajara ended 1-1 in regular time, before misses from Crysencio Summerville, Quentin Timber and Justin Kluivert scuppered their efforts in the penalty shootout, condemning Der Oranje to an early flight home.

And, less than 24 hours on from the full-time whistle, Koeman has resigned his post as the national team’s manager, a role he has occuppied since 2023.

Writing in a translated open letter on his Instagram page, he wrote: “Last night (Monday) I took the decision to end my stint as head coach of the Dutch National Team. Looking back on my career, I feel especially proud and gratefulness. I have had the privilege to work at Vitesse, Ajax, Benfica, PSV, Valencia, AZ, Feyenoord, Southampton, Everton, FC Barcelona and of course two periods at Oranje.

Resignation tendered: Ronald Koeman

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“Clubs and people that shaped me and gave me memories that I will cherish for a lifetime.That's why it hurts that my period at Oranje ends like that. We all dreamed of a World Cup in which we would write history. That didn't work out.

“No one is more disappointed about that than me. As a head coach, you carry that responsibility. I have always felt that and I will always continue to feel that.

Koeman earned 78 caps for the Netherlands as a player and also served as head coach between 2018 and 2020, departing to take over at Barcelona before returning to the national setup.

His letter continued, saying he plans to take time away from football to support his wife, actress Bartina Koeman, through her cancer battle. She publicly revealed a breast cancer diagnosis in June 2024.

Koeman went on: “The past years have made me realize again that there are more important things than football. Football has been my life, but health is priceless. When someone you love is fighting a tough battle, your perspective changes.

“My wife Bartina has supported and encouraged me every day to finish my work as a national coach, despite her own illness process. That is a testimony to incredible strength. I appreciate her more than I’ll ever be able to put into words.”