Hiddink announces Netherlands departure

The Royal Netherlands Football Association (KNVB) have announced that Guus Hiddink has stepped down as national-team coach, bringing a premature end to his second spell as Oranje bos.

The 68-year-old was under contract until 1 August next year, a deal which would have taken him up to the end of UEFA EURO 2016, but he has taken the decision to step aside with his side third in qualifying Group A. "I'm sorry things turned out this way," he said.  "It was an honour to become Netherlands coach for a second time, and I wish my successor, the staff and the team all the best on their way to the EUROs in France."

Hiddink succeeded Louis van Gaal last summer after the Oranje picked up third at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. Having led PSV Eindhoven to European Champions' Club Cup glory in 1988, he first took charge of the Netherlands from 1994-98, leading them to the quarter-finals of EURO '96 and the last four at the 1998 World Cup. He also reached semi-finals with South Korea at the 2002 World Cup and Russia at UEFA EURO 2008

Hiddink's second spell as Netherlands coach began with a friendly defeat by Italy and a UEFA EURO 2016 loss to the Czech Republic. A 2-0 reverse in Iceland and a 1-1 draw at home to off-colour Turkey worsened the Dutch situation, and they are currently three points adrift of the Czechs in the race for second place. Hiddink's assistant Danny Blind had been earmarked to replace him after UEFA EURO 2016. Nothing has been revealed about who will take charge of the side for the remainder of the current campaign.