13.05.2026 16:30
78-year-old Dick Advocaat has taken charge of the Curaçao National Team again ahead of the 2026 World Cup. Curaçao previously made history as the least populous country in the history of the World Cup.
78-year-old Dutch manager Dick Advocaat has returned to take charge of the Curaçao National Team ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
OFFICIAL STATEMENT FROM CURAÇAO
In a statement by the Curaçao Football Federation, it was announced that Dick Advocaat has been reappointed following the departure of manager Fred Rutten.
The statement said, “The board has decided to appoint Dick Advocaat as the head coach of the Curaçao National Team.”
HE HAD ACHIEVED HISTORIC SUCCESS
Dick Advocaat had previously achieved a historic success with Curaçao. Under the Dutch manager's leadership, Curaçao qualified for the FIFA World Cup for the first time in its history.
HE HAD LEFT DUE TO HIS DAUGHTER'S HEALTH ISSUES
The experienced coach had stepped down in February due to health problems faced by his daughter. Advocaat’s return to the team has created great excitement in Curaçao football.
THEY MADE WORLD CUP HISTORY
Curaçao, with a population of approximately 150,000, made history as the smallest country to ever qualify for the World Cup. The Caribbean island nation also surpassed the population record of about 350,000 set by Iceland, which participated in the 2018 World Cup.