Koeman’s cautious legacy: from Nations League rise to World Cup fall

In the sweltering heat of Monterrey, Ronald Koeman watched his Netherlands side fall to Morocco on penalties, marking the end of his second spell as national coach. The night followed a dramatic 2‑2 draw against Germany in Gelsenkirchen that had once revived Dutch hopes. Koeman sat on the bench 64 times for the Dutch national team, second only to Bob Glendenning’s 87 caps as coach. His first tenure began in 2018 when assistant Dwight Lodeweges retrieved a crumpled note on the pitch that named Virgil van Dijk as the emergency striker. The 2‑2 Nations League stalemate against Germany followed home victories over France and Germany, confirming the Netherlands had regained its colour after missing Euro 2016 and the 2018 World Cup. That resurgence was highlighted by a striking performance that propelled the Dutch to the Nations League final. In Monterrey, Koeman – once regarded as one of the Netherlands’ best penalty takers – could not prevent the penalty‑shootout defeat that ended the World Cup campaign. His cautious tactical approach sparked criticism across Dutch households, with many accusing him of over‑defending.

Van Dijk's heartfelt Instagram tribute to Koeman after World Cup exit

Before leaving for Barcelona, Koeman guided the Netherlands to the Nations League final, but departed before the European Championship could be contested. A second spell arrived in 2023 after Frank de Boer’s failed Euro and Louis van Gaal’s World Cup penalty trauma, with Koeman promising change. He recalled, “There were moments at the World Cup when I thought: this must be different,” signalling his openness to tactical shifts. Koeman noted he had never opposed a five‑defender system, yet in his second tenure he stuck to a 4‑3‑4 formation, only briefly switching to 3‑4‑3 against Morocco. Throughout his career Koeman has been described as a pragmatic tactician rather than a system‑driven manager, favouring defensive solidity. His approach produced a semi‑final run at Euro 2022 on German soil, relying on a core midfield of Frenkie de Jong, with Virgil van Dijk at the back and Memphis Depay leading the attack. Joey Veerman’s lack of form at the Euro led Koeman to lose faith in the creative Dutch midfielder, while Tijjani Reijnders partnered Frenkie de Jong and Justin Kluivert in midfield during the 2025 Nations League tie with Spain. A late substitution saw Ollie Watson miss a decisive chance, and Koeman had anticipated a midfield trio of De Jong, Ryan Gravenberch and another world‑class player for the World Cup. Before his national duties, Koeman managed Feyenoord, where in March 2014 he introduced a five‑defender system against FC Groningen, securing a win and a subsequent second‑place finish. His earlier playing career included a European Cup triumph with PSV, the same club where he once lifted the continental trophy as a player.