Ronald Koeman is to return as the coach of the Netherlands when Louis van Gaal leaves the role after the World Cup in Qatar, the Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB) confirmed on Wednesday.

Van Gaal, who has long made it clear he will leave after the global soccer showpiece later this year, said last week he was receiving treatment for an aggressive form of prostate cancer.

Koeman will then take the reins for a second spell after signing a contract until the 2026 World Cup. He posted on Twitter: “Proud to share I will be the manager of Netherlands’ national team again after the WC. I am very much looking forward, let’s reach new successes together!”

Koeman was in charge as the Netherlands finished runners-up in the inaugural Nations League in 2018-19 and helped them qualify for Euro 2020 before leaving for an ill-fated 14 months at Barcelona but was sacked by the Catalan side in October last year.

The 59-year-old former Southampton and Everton manager represented the Dutch national team 78 times as a player, scoring 14 goals, and was a key part of the side that won the 1988 European Championship.

He added in a statement on the KNVB website: “I am looking forward to the new collaboration. About a year and a half ago I certainly did not leave the Dutch national team out of dissatisfaction. My stay felt good, the results were good and the click with the internationals was good. We will continue on that path.”

Marianne van Leeuwen, director of professional football at KNVB, said they were keen to confirm the post-World Cup future of the team to provide clarity for the players and stakeholders.

(Written with agency inputs)