Bert van Marwijk quits as Netherlands coach

AMSTERDAM - The Associated Press

Netherlands’ coach Bert van Marwijk stepped down after a disastrous Euro 2012 campaign. REUTERS photo

Netherlands coach Bert van Marwijk resigned on June 27 after the team’s surprising group stage exit at the European Championship, abruptly ending a seesaw career.

Van Marwijk’s contract to 2016 was ended “with immediate effect,” the Dutch federation said in a statement.

The Dutch lost all three group games to Germany, Portugal and Denmark, after they had entered the tournament with high hopes.

“I was in serious doubt, but still decided to take this step,” Van Marwijk said in a statement.
Pressure in the media had been mounting for over a week with calls for quick action before the Netherlands starts its World Cup qualifying campaign this autumn.

The federation, however, decided to remember the good times. “We are grateful to Van Marwijk: He performed exceptionally well with a place in the World Cup final and a first place in the FIFA ranking,” director Bert van Oostveen said.

It was the first time in more than a decade that the Dutch failed to reach the second round at either the World Cup or a Euros. And the first time since 1984 that the Dutch missed out on a place in a Euro quarterfinals.

Now World Cup qualifying is the focus and the Netherlands is in a group with Romania and Turkey, with only one team guaranteed a spot in the finals.