Ronald Koeman has pledged his future to the Netherlands, stating he won’t step down due to his wife’s recent cancer diagnosis. The Dutchman is currently enjoying a successful second stint as the national team manager, having guided the Netherlands to a semi-final showdown against England at Euro 2024.
A victory over the Three Lions on Wednesday (July 10) would pit his side against the winner of France vs Spain in the final. Before the tournament kicked off last month, Koeman’s wife Bartina was diagnosed with breast cancer, a disease she had previously conquered ten years ago.
She made it clear that she didn’t want her husband to miss the tournament in Germany and now the 61-year-old, who was part of the Netherlands’ Euro 1988 winning squad, is on the brink of achieving footballing greatness once more with his country. Ahead of the semi-final with England, Koeman has confirmed his desire to manage the national team at the 2026 World Cup.
His contract expires at the end of the tournament, which will be hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada and it was reportedly stipulated in his contract that the KNVB could sever ties with Koeman if the Netherlands failed to progress past the last 16 this month, reports the Mirror.
In an interview with De Telegraaf, Koeman confidently stated about his job security: “As it is now. I don’t think they can get rid of me anymore” while he also shared an update on his wife’s health battle, saying: “My wife’s health is okay. She does have treatments, but that is no reason to stop being a trainer.”
Koeman is set to make history as the first Dutch manager since Dick Advocaat in 2004 to lead the team into the Euros semi-finals, regardless of the tournament’s outcome.
Last month, Mrs Koeman bravely disclosed her ongoing fight with cancer, revealing: “My breast cancer is now back. I want to be open about that because I hope I might be able to help other women with a similar type of cancer. I first had it in 2010. Then I had surgery, chemo and radiotherapy. After that, the cancer was gone”.
She continued detailing her journey: “But in 2018, my neck was bothering me. I thought it was whiplash. It turned out I had metastasis in the spine. After more chemo, the cancer stayed away, but on a scan they saw activity again. Every three to four weeks I have to be in the Netherlands for treatment at the Amsterdam Cancer Hospital.”
Despite the challenges, she remains optimistic about overcoming the disease once more and foresees success for her husband and his squad, stating: “But I am a strong woman and I can handle this.
“I don’t run around whining and complaining all day because I am very independent. I so hope that Ronald will be rewarded for his hard work and that he will go very far at the European Championship. I hope we become champions. Ronald loves his job. He is a professional nut.”
