By Kazeem Ajibola Shoyebo
Veteran Dutch coach Dick Advocaat has resigned as head coach of the Curaçao national football team to care for his seriously ill daughter, stepping down just months before the nation’s historic debut at the FIFA World Cup.
The 78-year-old confirmed his departure on Monday, saying family must take priority over football, bringing an emotional end to one of the most remarkable managerial stories in recent international football.
Advocaat had guided Curaçao to their first-ever World Cup qualification, making the Caribbean island, with a population of roughly 150,000, the smallest nation in history to reach the tournament.
“I’ve always said that family comes before football,” Advocaat said in a statement, describing the decision as inevitable despite his deep attachment to the team and its players.
His resignation means he will not lead Curaçao at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where they are scheduled to face Germany, Ecuador, and Ivory Coast in the group stage.
Advocaat’s tenure had been transformative. Appointed in January 2024, he orchestrated a historic qualification campaign, restoring belief within the squad and elevating the country’s global football profile.
The veteran tactician, whose managerial career spans more than four decades and includes spells with the Netherlands, South Korea, Rangers, and Zenit St Petersburg, described qualifying Curaçao as one of the proudest achievements of his career.
Former PSV Eindhoven and Feyenoord coach Fred Rutten has been appointed as his successor and will now lead the team into the biggest tournament in their history.
Despite stepping aside, Advocaat leaves behind a lasting legacy, having delivered what many consider one of football’s greatest underdog stories.