De Boer stepped down after failing to get into Euro 2020 last eight

The Dutch Football Association saw no reason to renew Frank de Boer’s contract after his shocking exit from the Euro 2020 tournament.

The coach had criteria for his contract renewal, which was to qualify into the quarter-finals of the competition. Despite a promising start in the Euro 2020 Group C fixtures, De Boer failed to do what was really required hence his decision to step down and pave way for another.

“I have decided not to continue as national coach,” he said in a statement.

“The objective was not achieved, that much is clear. When I was approached to become national coach in 2020, I thought it was an honour and a challenge but I was also aware of the pressure that would be on me from the moment I was appointed.

“That pressure is only increasing now, and that is not a healthy situation for me, nor for the squad in the run-up to such an important period for Dutch football with the World Cup qualification. I want to thank everyone, the fans and the players and the management team who have created a top climate here.”

The Dutch FA’s director of football, Nico-Jan Hoogm confirmed that if De Boer’s mission was achieved by qualifying into the last eight, a new deal would have been agreed to continue with the team ahead of the World Cup qualifiers next year.

“Despite all of Frank’s efforts, the goal of reaching at least the quarter-finals was not achieved. If it had been achieved we would maybe have come to a different outcome [today]. The choice of Frank turned out differently than we had hoped and a successor must now be found. We have an important qualifier against Norway in Oslo on 1 September.”