Dick Advocaat poised for World Cup return with Curacao
Former Premier League manager Dick Advocaat appears poised to make a remarkable return to the Curacao dugout, a move that would see the 78-year-old Dutchman become the oldest manager ever to lead a team at a World Cup, reports BritPanorama.
Advocaat stepped away from his role in February but is now reportedly set to reverse that decision ahead of next month’s tournament.
If confirmed, Advocaat would surpass the previous record held by Otto Rehhagel, who was 71 when managing Greece at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. The Curacao Football Federation has not yet made an official announcement, though his return is widely anticipated.
Advocaat’s departure occurred just four months after he guided Curacao to their maiden World Cup qualification, a historic achievement for the small island territory. He initially made the difficult decision to step back in order to support his daughter during her cancer treatment. However, his assistant Cor Pot reported that Advocaat’s daughter has been responding positively to chemotherapy, leading to renewed expectations of his return.
“The Curacao squad became aware last month that her health had improved enough for the experienced manager to consider returning to the role,” according to Dutch publication AD.
Despite initial reports suggesting that the Curacao Football Federation had blocked Advocaat’s potential comeback, the players expressed a strong preference for him to manage at the World Cup. Fred Rutten, Advocaat’s successor, chose to resign under pressure from the squad, stating, “There must not be a climate that damages healthy professional relations, both among players and in the staff. Therefore, it is prudent to take a step back.” He also noted that time is running out for Curacao, and the team must move forward.
The federation praised Rutten for his professionalism and sense of responsibility, acknowledging his decision to prioritize the team’s interests. Curacao’s World Cup qualification is a remarkable accomplishment for a nation with a population of around 150,000, comparable to that of York.
As the smallest nation ever to reach the World Cup, surpassing Iceland’s appearance in 2018, Curacao will open their Group E campaign against Germany on June 14, followed by matches against Ecuador and the Ivory Coast. Advocaat, who has managed numerous clubs including Rangers and Sunderland, as well as eight national teams throughout his career, brings a wealth of experience to this pivotal role.
In the unpredictability of football, the narrative of a veteran coach returning amidst personal challenges adds another layer to the drama of the World Cup stage, as every match could be a testament to resilience and ambition.
