Ronald Koeman resigns as Netherlands coach after penalty defeat to Morocco at World Cup 2026

Ronald Koeman resigned as Netherlands head coach on Tuesday after the Dutch were knocked out of World Cup 2026 by Morocco on penalties in the last 32 in Monterrey, Mexico.

“Last night, I made the decision to end my tenure as head coach of the Dutch national team,” Koeman wrote on Instagram. “We all dreamed of a World Cup in which we would make history. That didn’t happen. No one is more disappointed about that than I am. As head coach, you bear that responsibility.”

Koeman had declined to commit to his future immediately after the shootout defeat but an underwhelming second stint in charge, coupled with sustained criticism from the Dutch media, made his departure all but inevitable. Pundits had described Netherlands performances that “ranged from sluggish, aimless passing and retreating against Japan to an energetic response against Sweden and then back to an 80 per cent mentality against Tunisia.”

The 63-year-old also hinted at stepping away from coaching altogether, citing the health of his wife Bartina. “The past few years have made me realise once again that there are more important things than football,” he wrote. “When someone you love dearly is fighting a tough battle, your perspective changes. Despite her own illness, my wife Bartina supported and encouraged me every day to finish my work as head coach. That shows incredible strength.”

Nigel de Jong, the Dutch football association’s technical director, was frank in his assessment of the campaign. “The objective was the semi-finals, and the ambition was to become world champions,” de Jong said. “Unfortunately, we didn’t achieve that. Yes, we are a long way off. That is the conclusion. We have to be honest about that.”

Koeman took charge of the Netherlands after the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where the team reached the quarter-finals under Louis van Gaal. During his second stint, the Dutch advanced to the semi-finals of Euro 2024 but failed to defeat a single nation ranked in FIFA’s top 25 throughout the tournament.

This was Koeman’s second spell as national team coach. He first took the role in February 2018 before leaving abruptly in August 2020 to manage Barcelona. The Dutch football association will now begin the search for his successor.