Dutch nat'l football coach resigns after friendly victory over Romania

Dick Advocaat resigned as coach of Dutch national football team Oranje, he announced after Oranje won a match against Romania 0-3 on Tuesday. He already decided that he would step down if the Netherlands didn't make it to the World Cup, he said, according to RTL Nieuws. "The main reason I'm leaving is that I find it time for another generation. The younger people must take over at Oranje."

Advocaat did not inform the KNVB about his resignation before announcing it, according to the broadcaster. "But after all the reports, they already know." In agreement with his staff, Advocaat decided to keep his resignation quiet until after the match with Romania. "We wanted to take the remaining matches with Scotland and Romania seriously, certainly for the players. That was done. It is important for the players that they finished the year well. They can continue with this in March under new leadership. Of my personal situation, people should not make an issue."

The coach again expressed a positive opinion about his assistant coach Ruud Gullit. "He could do very well with someone else. The same goes for Ronald Koeman. Together at Oranje, I don't think is wise. They are both too big football characters, with their own will."

Advocaat did not say anything about his plans for the future. "What I'm going to do now? We will have to see."