Rafael Nogueira
Dick Advocaat has been reappointed as head coach of Curaçao just weeks before the nation’s first-ever FIFA World Cup, the Curaçao Football Federation (FFK) confirmed at a press conference on Tuesday.
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Advocaat, 78, had stepped down in February after guiding the island nation to its historic World Cup qualification, returning to the Netherlands to care for his seriously ill daughter. Fred Rutten took charge in his absence.
Sponsor Pressure and a Fractured Camp
As conditions surrounding Advocaat‘s daughter improved, speculation about a return intensified. A significant portion of the first-team squad allegedly pushed for his reinstatement. The situation reached a flashpoint when head sponsor Corendon announced its withdrawal after FFK president Gilbert Martina publicly confirmed on Friday that Rutten would lead the team at the World Cup.
Martina was direct on the matter at Tuesday’s press conference.
“The FFK board has consistently made it clear that the appointment and dismissal of a national coach is the responsibility of the board. There has been external pressure, but our decision-making is not influenced by it.”
Rutten’s Exit Opens the Door
The FFK announced on Monday that it had parted ways with Rutten, who had tendered his resignation the previous day. In a federation statement on social media, Rutten addressed the situation directly.
“A climate that damages healthy professional relationships among players and staff must not be allowed to emerge. It is prudent to step back. Time is pressing, and Curacao must move forward.”
Under Rutten, Curaçao lost friendlies against China (2-0) and Australia (5-1) in March.
Martina stressed that the switch back to Advocaat was not planned in advance. “Advocaat was contacted on Monday to gauge his availability, only after Fred had handed in his resignation on Sunday. Fred’s decision to step down is for a completely different reason.”
Advocaat Steps Away from Feyenoord Role
Since his February resignation, Advocaat had been serving as special advisor to head coach Robin van Persie at Feyenoord, who finished second in the Dutch Eredivisie to qualify for the UEFA Champions League.
When Curaçao face Germany on June 14th in their World Cup debut, Advocaat will become the oldest head coach in the tournament’s history. Ivory Coast and Ecuador are the other two sides in Group E. Follow TipsGG for full coverage of Curaçao‘s World Cup campaign, match previews, and expert tips.