• Former Chelsea manager hands over to assistant Danny Blind
• ‘I think it’s a real pity things worked out like this,’ says Hiddink
Guus Hiddink
has quit as the coach of Holland after less than a year in charge. The
68-year-old hands over to his assistant, Danny Blind, with the Dutch
third in their Euro 2016 qualifying group and facing the possibility of a
play-off to win a place at next year’s championship in France.
The much-travelled Hiddink, in his second spell as the national coach, has delivered some mediocre results and been heavily criticised since taking over from the Manchester United-bound Louis van Gaal last August. It had been planned that Blind would take over as following Euro 2016.
“I think it’s a real pity things worked out like this,” Hiddink said in a statement. “It was an honour to be the national coach again and I wish my successor and all the staff every success on the road to Euro 2016.”
Holland finished third at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil and since then they have won four games in 10 matches, drawing once and losing five times. They are five points behind the leaders Iceland and three adrift of Czech Republic in Group A although they still have to host both in Euro 2016 qualifying.
Hiddink’s team lost to Czech Republic and Iceland in September and October last year and also dropped points at home to Turkey in March.
He was questioned by reporters in recent months over an apparent failure to forge the special bonds with his players that he had in the past.
Hiddink, who has also coached a host of top clubs including Real Madrid and Chelsea, responded by saying the negative reaction was disproportional.
Holland reached the semi-finals of the 1998 World Cup in France during his first spell in charge.
The much-travelled Hiddink, in his second spell as the national coach, has delivered some mediocre results and been heavily criticised since taking over from the Manchester United-bound Louis van Gaal last August. It had been planned that Blind would take over as following Euro 2016.
“I think it’s a real pity things worked out like this,” Hiddink said in a statement. “It was an honour to be the national coach again and I wish my successor and all the staff every success on the road to Euro 2016.”
Holland finished third at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil and since then they have won four games in 10 matches, drawing once and losing five times. They are five points behind the leaders Iceland and three adrift of Czech Republic in Group A although they still have to host both in Euro 2016 qualifying.
Hiddink’s team lost to Czech Republic and Iceland in September and October last year and also dropped points at home to Turkey in March.
He was questioned by reporters in recent months over an apparent failure to forge the special bonds with his players that he had in the past.
Hiddink, who has also coached a host of top clubs including Real Madrid and Chelsea, responded by saying the negative reaction was disproportional.
Holland reached the semi-finals of the 1998 World Cup in France during his first spell in charge.
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