Football legend Ronald Koeman has announced the death of his beloved wife Bartina from breast cancer aged 65. The former Netherlands and Barcelona boss and his other half were married for 41 years and he shared a heartbreaking message with the news on Instagram. 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.’The image he shared to accompany the post was a black and white shot of the couple looking into each other’s eyes and clasping their hands together. Koeman, who established himself as a football legend during his decorated playing career for Barcelona, Ajax, PSV and Feyenoord, married Bartina back in 1985. They had three children and four grandchildren together during a long and happy marriage. Ronald Koeman posted this image of him and his late wife Bartina, announcing her death Koeman, pictured with Bartina and his children in 1997 after a Feyenoord game, was married to Bartina for 41 yearsBartina 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.’Bartina thrived in her own successful career as an entrepreneur and had her own cosmetics and skincare line.And Koeman has received an outpouring of support, with tributes flooding in on social media following the announcement. The couple share a laugh in 2022 during a match between Telstar and Helmond Sport Legendary goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar wrote: ‘My deepest condolences and wishing you all much strength together as a family.’Denzel Dumfries, Brian Brobbey, Ryan Gravenberch, Nathan Ake and a number of other Dutch stars who played under Koeman replied to his message with a heart emoji. Koeman, who managed Southampton and Everton in the Premier League, has not taken another job since stepping down from the Netherlands job after their World Cup elimination by Morocco in the round of 32.