"I am going to enjoy every day," the 67-year-old Ron Jans said on FC Utrecht's website. Jans took the Utrecht job in 2023 and brought the club back to the European stage for the first time since 2009.
After the current season, however, Jans will enjoy retirement and spend more time with his family.
"I have never made a secret of the fact that the desire to retire has grown in recent years," Jans continued. "I have a fantastic job, and I am really enjoying myself at FC Utrecht. But at the same time, you realise that you are not in control of time."
"In recent years, I have felt a growing need for time. Time for my family, my friends, my hobbies and perhaps also for myself."
Long career
Jans started his managerial career at amateurs HSC in 1991, the same year he ended a 15-year playing career that saw him play for PEC Zwolle, FC Groningen, Roda JC, Mazda Sport in Japan, and Veendam.
After teaching German and coaching several amateur sides on the side, Jans took his first professional job in 2001, becoming the assistant to Hennie Spijkerman at FC Emmen. FC Groningen immediately picked Jans up, and the charismatic manager would stay there until 2010.
After Groningen, Jans worked for Heerenveen, Standard Liege in Belgium, PEC Zwolle, FC Cincinnati in the United States, FC Twente and FC Utrecht.
Jans enjoyed his biggest success with PEC Zwolle in 2013, emphatically beating record winners Ajax 5-1 in the final of the KNVB Beker, winning the club their first-ever major trophy.
Enough is enough
For Jans, it's time to say goodbye after a long career. "It was a very difficult decision. I've had a wonderful career, and FC Utrecht is a wonderful chapter in that oeuvre. This is a really great club.
"A few months ago, I already thought it would go this way, but at the same time, I still felt uneasy. Even in recent months, when things weren't going as well as we had hoped on the pitch. Then you start to doubt: Am I doing the right thing? At the same time, you know that there comes a moment when you have to say: enough is enough. And that moment is this summer."
FC Utrecht are currently in eighth place in the Dutch Eredivisie. In the UEFA Europa League, FC Utrecht are all but eliminated after winning just one point from their first six games.