Ronald Koeman has stepped down as manager of the Netherlands national football team following their elimination from the World Cup after a penalty shootout defeat to Morocco.

The Netherlands were held to a 1-1 draw by Morocco after extra time, but their World Cup journey ended in heartbreak as Justin Kluivert, Quinten Timber, and Crysencio Summerville all missed their penalties during the shootout.

This marks Koeman’s second stint in charge of the national team. He previously managed the Netherlands from 2018 to 2020 before departing to take over at Barcelona.

Koeman, 63, shared his decision and reflections in an emotional message on Instagram, stating, “Looking back on my career, I feel especially proud. I have worked with clubs and people who shaped me and gave me memories that I will cherish for a lifetime.”

He continued, “We all dreamed of a World Cup where we would make history. That didn’t happen, and no one is more disappointed about that than me.”

The Dutch coach also spoke about his wife Bartina’s ongoing battle with breast cancer. She had previously overcome the disease in 2010 but was diagnosed again in 2024 and is currently undergoing chemotherapy.

“In recent years, I have realised again that there are more important things in life than football,” Koeman added. “Football has been my life, but health is priceless. When someone you love is fighting a tough battle, your perspective changes.”

Following the team’s exit, the Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB) announced that it will pursue legal action against individuals who racially abused Dutch players online. Kluivert, Timber, and Summerville were subjected to racist and hateful messages on social media after missing their penalties.

The KNVB stated, “Once a report is filed, our legal team assesses whether the statement qualifies as a criminal offence. This can result in a formal complaint being submitted to the Public Prosecution Service, which may then launch a criminal investigation.”

Koeman’s departure makes him the third manager to leave his position during this World Cup. Tunisia’s Sabri Lamouchi was sacked after their 5-1 loss to Sweden in their opening match, while Scotland’s Steve Clarke resigned following his team’s failure to progress beyond the group stage.