"I am more grateful to her than I could ever express in words." Ronald Koeman's message expresses immense pain over the death of his wife, Bartina. She was 65 years old and had been suffering from cancer for several years. The former coach of the Dutch national team was the one who announced the death of the woman with whom he had shared a part of his life. "With infinite sadness, but also with great pride and love, we say goodbye to my wonderful wife, our beloved mother and grandmother."
Diagnosed in 2010, then the tumor returned in 2018
In 2010, the first test results came back: Bartina was diagnosed with breast cancer. She began a long cycle of treatments and followed the therapeutic journey prescribed for her. She underwent everything that was necessary and possible to overcome that serious illness, but in 2018, when it seemed that cancer could now be just a bad memory, she was once again faced with the results of the tests. The disease had returned and in the following years her health had ups and downs and required continuous medical treatments.
In 2025, Bartina spoke publicly about her situation, about the difficult times she had gone through and coped with thanks to the support of her family. "I have wonderful children, wonderful grandchildren and a fantastic husband."
Koeman had shown how much the disease affected their lives
During his time as coach of the Dutch national team, Koeman often referred to his wife's health, who could not accompany him during his engagements with the Netherlands. "It's difficult for her to come, because every Wednesday she receives treatment. And then there are side effects for a day or two." In October 2025, he was even forced to leave the team's training camp on the occasion of the 2026 World Cup qualifying matches against Malta and Finland: he ran to his wife, exhausted by the return of the illness and the difficulty of the therapies.
"It has to do with my wife," he said without adding any further details in his explanation, to preserve privacy over such a painful personal story. But those who were close to him, those who knew his emotional state, knew well that that sudden departure was a sign of something else. "My wife Bartina, despite her journey with the disease, has supported and encouraged me every day to complete my work as coach of the national team."
A life together away from the public eye
There has never been a social network or media rumor that has affected the couple, who have always lived their relationship in a very "normal" way and away from the public eye, despite a career that has often put Koeman in the spotlight, both as a footballer and a coach. And the sentence "I am more grateful to her than I could ever express in words" is the right summary of a life spent together. Bartina and Ronald Koeman were married for years and from their marriage three children were born: Tim, Ronald Jr. and Debbie. In recent years they had also experienced the joy of expanding their family with the arrival of grandchildren.
