{
  "id": 7767039,
  "title": "Dutch soccer great Ronald Koeman announces death of his wife Bartina after breast cancer",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/dutch-soccer-great-ronald-koeman-announces-death-of-his-wife-bartina",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-09-16T10:42:13.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Winnipeg Free Press",
    "slug": "winnipeg-free-press",
    "url": "https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/sports/soccer/2026/09/16/dutch-soccer-great-ronald-koeman-announces-death-of-his-wife-bartina-after-breast-cancer"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Former Netherlands soccer coach Ronald Koeman announced on Wednesday that his wife of 41 years, Bartina, had passed away after a courageous battle with breast cancer. She was 65 years old. In a heartfelt social media post, Koeman expressed his deep sorrow while also honoring his beloved wife, mother, and grandmother. The couple had been together for 41 years.\n\nKoeman led the Dutch national team at this year’s World Cup, and in the lead-up to the tournament’s opening match, he had expressed his hope that Bartina could skip a weekly treatment and join him in the United States if the team advanced to the final. He stepped down from his coaching position after the team was eliminated in the round of 32 by Morocco, citing his wife’s illness as a significant factor.\n\nReflecting on the past years, Koeman acknowledged that while football had been his life, the importance of health could not be overstated. He credited Bartina for her unwavering support and encouragement, recognizing her incredible strength in the face of her own health challenges. Koeman served two terms as the Netherlands coach and previously coached Barcelona for the 2020-21 season. He had also coached clubs in the Netherlands, England, Portugal, and Spain.\n\nA key player in the Netherlands' 1988 European Championship-winning team, Koeman also won European Cup titles with PSV Eindhoven and Barcelona, including scoring the winning goal at Wembley Stadium in 1992 when Barcelona claimed its first European title. The Spanish club expressed its deepest condolences and affection to Koeman and his family, promising them peace in the afterlife.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [
    "Ronald Koeman's wife Bartina died after breast cancer battle",
    "Bartina was 65 years old, Koeman's wife of 41 years",
    "Koeman stepped down from coaching due to wife's illness"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}