The Hague, Feb 2 (IANS): Ronald Koeman announced his departure as coach of Feyenoord by the end of this season. He will not renew his expiring contract, Xinhua reported.

"For almost three years I have been working closely and very well with the players, the staff and all the others here at the club," Koeman said Saturday on the Feyenoord website.

"I enjoyed it here from day one and I still do that really. The choice not to sign a new contract is strictly a matter of feeling."

The former head coach of Vitesse, Ajax, Benfica, PSV, Valencia and AZ succeeded Mario Been as Feyenoord coach at the end of July 2011.

He finished second in the Dutch league in his first season and last year he led the Rotterdam based side to a third position. Feyenoord are currently ranked fourth in the Eredivisie.

The 50-year-old former Dutch international Koeman was favourite to succeed Louis van Gaal as Netherlands coach after the World Cup in Brazil.

However, the Dutch football association KNVB will probably present Guus Hiddink as new coach at short notice.