Ronald Koeman has stepped down as the manager of the Netherlands after the Oranje were beaten on penalties in the World Cup 2026 round of 32.
Morocco progressed at the expense of the Netherlands and Koeman said his goodbyes at the end of a second spell in charge of his country.
“Looking back on my career, I feel especially proud,” Koeman posted on . He guided Liverpool to the Premier League title in 2024-25 but was given the boot a year later, though his reputation in the Netherlands has largely held.
One must always consider the reigning Eredivisie champion in these situations. PSV won the 2025-26 title under 62-year-old Peter Bosz, who has also managed Ajax but, unusually for Dutch managers with senior international caps, never the national team.
Ruud van Nistelrooy will be in the frame having served as Koeman’s assistant. The former Oranje striker and PSV gaffer has had a spell in temporary charge of Manchester United and a very iffy introduction to full-time Premier League management at Leicester City.
If the assistant coach is usually in the running, how about the current Under-21 boss? In the case of the Netherlands, that’s one Michael Reiziger. Now 53, the legendary Netherlands player has spent time with age-group teams at Ajax too.
Another former United manager, Erik ten Hag, is unlikely to be far away from the conversation. After a brutally short spell in charge of Bayer Leverkusen, Ten Hag is due to begin a backroom role with Twente after the World Cup. Could he be tempted to change paths?
Over the years, the KNVB has done a fine line in appointing former players with some managerial experience but by no means an unimpeachable record of success. Robin van Persie is out of work after stints with Heerenveen and boyhood club Feyenoord, whence he departed at the end of last season.
The signature move of the Dutch governing body at this juncture would be the return of Louis van Gaal, who replaced Frank de Boer, and Bert van Marwijk, and Frank Rijkaard.
Having gone back to the well three times, the Netherlands might find that 74 is too old for Van Gaal to return once more. He has been on hiatus since the end of his third spell in 2022.
What’s your prediction? Who’s next for the Netherlands? Let us know in the comments below…