Football legend Ronald Koeman has announced the de@th of his beloved wife, Bartina, after her battle with breast cancer at the age of 65.
The former Netherlands and Barcelona boss, who was married to his wife for 41 years, shared a heartbreaking message with the news on Instagram.
Sharing black-and-white shot of the couple looking into each other’s eyes and clasping their hands together, Koeman, 63, wrote: ‘With intense sadness, but also with great pride and love, we say goodbye to my beautiful wife, our dearest mom and grandma.’
Koeman, who established himself as a football legend during his decorated playing career for Barcelona, Ajax, PSV, and Feyenoord, married Bartina back in 1985.
The couple had three children and four grandchildren together during a long and happy marriage.
Bartina was re-diagnosed with breast cancer in 2023 when he started his second spell in charge of the Dutch national team.
She had previously recovered from breast cancer in 2010 and it came back in 2018.
Bartina continued to fight the disease and Koeman said metastases had been detected last year, which his wife was receiving treatment for.
When he stepped down from the Dutch job, he made a point of thanking his wife for her support, saying: ‘My wife Bartina supported and encouraged me every day, despite her own illness, to finish my work as national coach.
‘That is a testament to incredible strength. I am more grateful to her for that than I will ever be able to put into words.’
Koeman has been receiving an outpouring of support, with tributes flooding in on social media following the announcement.
Legendary goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar wrote: ‘My deepest condolences and wishing you all much strength together as a family.’