Key Points
- Ronald Koeman stepped down as Netherlands head coach a day after the World Cup exit.
- The Oranje lost to Morocco 3-2 on penalties in the round of 32.
- Koeman drew criticism for a defensive, counter-attacking setup against Morocco.
- It ends his second stint, which began in 2023 after a 2018-2020 spell.
Ronald Koeman has stepped down as head coach of the Netherlands, a day after the Oranje's exit from the 2026 World Cup, NL Times reported. The 63-year-old's departure follows a 1-1 draw with Morocco that the Dutch lost 3-2 on penalties in the round of 32.
Koeman drew heavy criticism from Dutch media and supporters for abandoning the team's attacking tradition against Morocco, deploying a five-man backline and playing primarily on the counter. The exit ends his second stint in charge: he first managed the national team from 2018 to 2020 before leaving for Barcelona, then returned in 2023.
For a federation that gave the game total football, going out by parking the bus is the kind of identity rupture that costs a manager his job, even one with Koeman's pedigree. The Netherlands had leaned into that identity off the pitch too, with streetwear label Patta designing the entire Oranje wardrobe for the tournament. On it, the Dutch join Germany among the favorites already eliminated in the expanded bracket.
Source: NL Times.
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