Dick Advocaat has stepped down as the head coach of Curacao ahead of their debut at the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup due to his daughter’s health, Afrosport reports.
The 78-year-old Dutchman was appointed in 2024 and led the small island to its first-ever FIFA World Cup, making them the smallest nation ever to qualify.
Advocaat was set to become the oldest coach to ever manage a nation at the World Cup after Otto Rehhagel led Greece at the 2010 edition in South Africa at 71 years and 317 days old.
“I have always said that family comes before football,” Advocaat said in a statement released by the Curacao Football Federation (FFK).
“This is therefore a natural decision. That said, I will greatly miss Curacao, its people, and my colleagues. I consider qualifying the smallest nation in the world for the World Cup one of the highlights of my career. I am proud of my players, staff and board members who believed in us.”
FFK President, Gilbert Martina, said Advocaat’s decision to step down commands respect and Curacao will remain grateful to him.
The FFK has named Fred Rutten as the successor to Advocaat. The 63-year-old Dutchman had been without a job since taking over from Ruud van Nistelrooy at PSV Eindhoven in 2023.
๐๐ฑ๐๐ผ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ฎ๐ ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฝ๐ ๐ฑ๐ผ๐๐ป ๐ฎ๐ ๐ต๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ต
Dick Advocaat steps down as head coach of The Blue Wave. Fred Rutten has been appointed as his successor. #TheBlueWave #Curaรงao pic.twitter.com/TQu2Sj2kDw
โ Curaรงao National Football Team (@TheBlueWaveFFK) February 23, 2026
Curacao have been drawn into Group E of the World Cup along with Germany, Ecuador, and the Ivory Coast.
