Frank de Boer has left his post as Netherlands coach, having not fulfilled the criteria for his contract to be renewed, which was a place in the quarter-finals at Euro 2020.
The 51-year-old was appointed last year after Ronald Koeman left for Barcelona but despite a promising start at the tournament, in which they won all three group games, the sending-off of Matthijs de Ligt against the Czech Republic led to a 2-0 defeat at the last-16 stage.
After discussions with the Dutch Football Association on Tuesday it was announced that De Boer would leave with immediate effect. “I have decided not to continue as national coach,” he said in a statement. “The objective was not achieved, that much is clear. When I was approached to become national coach in 2020, I thought it was an honour and a challenge but I was also aware of the pressure that would be on me from the moment I was appointed.
“That pressure is only increasing now, and that is not a healthy situation for me, nor for the squad in the run-up to such an important period for Dutch football with the World Cup qualification. I want to thank everyone, the fans and the players and the management team who have created a top climate here.”
The Dutch FA’s director of football, Nico-Jan Hoogma, said: “Despite all of Frank’s efforts, the goal of reaching at least the quarter-finals was not achieved. If it had been achieved we would maybe have come to a different outcome [today]. The choice of Frank turned out differently than we had hoped and a successor must now be found. We have an important qualifier against Norway in Oslo on 1 September.”
