Intro:

Guus Hiddink has stepped down as Netherlands coach after less than a year in the job.

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Guus Hiddink has stepped down after less than a year in his second spell as Netherlands head coach. The former Real Madrid manager took over from Louis van Gaal after the 2014 World Cup and the side has struggled since with just three wins from their opening six European Championship qualifiers.

Hiddink said “I am sorry that it went this way. I regarded it as an honour to be, once again, coach of the Netherlands national team, and I wish my successor, the staff and the squad every success on the road to qualifying for the European Championships in France.“

The other members of the coaching team will keep their jobs for now while the KNVB decide on a successor.

Director Bert van Oostveen said: “I regret this development. Unfortunately, the results of Guus’s work were not visible immediately for everyone, we thank Guus for his efforts."