Dick Advocaat shockingly returns as Curacao manager month before World Cup

[p]Advocaat, 78, resigned as [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/curacao/bLLGpOkQ/"]Curaçao[/a] manager in February after leading the island nation to its first-ever FIFA World Cup. The Dutch manager returned to the Netherlands to take care of his seriously ill daughter, after which Fred Rutten took over for Curaçao.[/p][p]Following improvements in the situation of Advocaat's daughter, rumours of the 78-year-old potentially returning as Curaçao manager quickly spread. Most of the first-team squad allegedly demanded his return, and head sponsor Corendon announced its exit after FFK president Gilbert Martina confirmed on Friday that Fred Rutten would lead the team at the World Cup.[/p][p]Martina said during Tuesday's press conference that the pressure from Corendon did not affect their judgment.[/p][p][b]"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."[/b][/p][h2]Advocaat contacted after Rutten's exit[/h2][p]The FFK announced on Monday that it had already [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/news/soccer-world-cup-fred-rutten-resigns-as-curacao-head-coach-as-talks-of-dick-advocaat-return-emerge/2HlGDWQH/"]parted ways with Rutten[/a].[/p][p][b]"A climate that damages healthy professional relationships among players ​and staff must not be allowed to emerge," [/b]Rutten was quoted as saying in a federation ⁠statement on social ​media. [b]"It is prudent to step back. Time is pressing, and Curacao must move forward."[/b][/p][p]With Rutten as their head coach, Curacao lost friendlies against China (2-0) and Australia (5-1) in March.[/p][p]Switching back to Advocaat wasn't a premeditated measure, Martina said. [/p][p][b]“Advocaat was contacted on Monday to gauge his availability, only after Fred (Rutten) had handed in his resignation on Sunday. Fred’s decision to step down is for a completely different reason.”[/b][/p][p]Following his resignation in February, Advocaat joined Feyenoord as special advisor to head coach Robin van Persie. The Rotterdam outfit qualified for the UEFA Champions League by finishing second in the Dutch Eredivisie.[/p][p]Advocaat will become the oldest head coach in FIFA World Cup history when Curaçao make their debut at the tournament against Germany on June 14th. Ivory Coast and Ecuador are the other two teams in Group E.[/p][embed guid="80d92c10-9c65-477f-801e-dae7b1878fd3" url="https://x.com/TheBlueWaveFFK/status/1997375626659959067?s=20" social-type="twitter" /]