AMSTERDAM: Guus Hiddink has pushed forward his planned handover of powers as national coach of Holland and stepped down with immediate effect.

Hiddink, 68, regained the post last summer after Louis Van Gaal quit to join Manchester United. At the time it was announced that he would hand over in due course to assistant Danny Blind.

Now, with the Dutch third in their Euro 2016 qualifying group and possibly facing a playoff tie reach the finals, Hiddink has reacted to the inevitable to halt speculation.

He said: “It’s a great pity things worked out like this. It was an honour to be the national coach again and I wish my successor and all the staff every success on the road to Euro 2016.”

Holland, third at last year’s World Cup in Brazil, are five points behind Group A leaders Iceland and three adrift of second-placed Czech Republic.

Hiddink’s team lost to Czech Republic and Iceland in September and October last year and also dropped points at home to Turkey in March.

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