Perceptions of failure, in football as in life, are heavily dependent on where you place your targets.

Yet it was difficult to watch Frank Rijkaard's dignified departure from his position as Dutch coach yesterday without contrasting his stance with that of Kevin Keegan.

Just like Portugal's Humberto Coelho, Rijkaard has rated a semi-final spot in Euro 2000 as failure and walked the plank. Despite being in charge of arguably the worst team in the tournament, Keegan wants to stay. He resolutely declined to fall on his sword.

Rijkaard laid bare his philosophy in the immediate aftermath of Holland's agonising spot-kick exit against Italy.

'I felt so terrible for the players that I had to resign,' he said. 'The law of football is that once these things happen, it's time for another man to take over.'

Given a night to sleep over his disappointment, Rijkaard remained determinedly adamant that his draconian view of footballing crime and punishment was the right one.

Facing his inquisitors as Dutch manager for the final time, he said: 'From the moment I took the job my aim was to go for the highest. I have given more than 100 per cent but we missed our goal and it is the law in football that people come and people go.

'If we'd reached it, I would have looked at it from another angle but I missed the goal. I don't think I can start all over again and that's why I made the decision to leave.

'It's up to individuals to take responsibility and I took mine. People may think it's harsh but I'm always very hard on myself. That's my character.

'I didn't reach my goal and when that happens you have to step down. I have grown up in the world of football and when you fail it is difficult to keep in a job.'

The contrast with Keegan was stark. After all, the England coach had entered Euro 2000 saying that he had to take responsibility if he did not galvanise the players sufficiently to win the tournament.

That he failed to get past the first round and was immediately given the backing of the Football Association - which has begun to seep away as the ashes of England's campaign were examined - appears all the stranger given that Germany's Erich Ribbeck 'did the decent thing' after his side's exit.

It seems even less justifiable following Rijkaard's departure. How soon we forget. Only six days ago, his team put on one of the great attacking displays in recent tournament history as they routed Yugoslavia 6-1 in their Rotterdam quarter-final.

Rijkaard's response was illuminating when he was asked about those, like Keegan, who had opted not to quit. 'If people do badly and decide to stay, that's their choice,' he said.

'I can't imagine what sort of situation they must be in. Maybe they have so much more support and they know that they are going to succeed in the future. I don't know and it's their choice. I have made mine and that is why I have gone.'

But he did not depart without a touch of humour. Asked about his future, he said: 'I have no plans as yet and I haven't found a club. I could always become the national manager of Germany!'

In truth, 37-year-old Rijkaard knows there will be no shortage of offers in the coming months. It is not easy to believe that many leading clubs would be beating a path to Keegan's door if he did follow the Dutchman's example.