Curacao welcomes back veteran coach Advocaat

Curacao have welcomed back Dick Advocaat as head coach in a surprise return

after his successor Fred Rutten resigned just a month out from their World Cup debut.

Advocaat made history last November when the Dutch coach led the Caribbean side to the finals but stepped down three months later because of his daughter’s health.

Following improvements to her situation, reports in the Dutch media suggested that Advocaat was open to returning to his former role.

Gilbert Martina, the president of Curacao’s football federation, confirmed on Tuesday that Advocaat is back in charge of their national team. The 78-year-old ex-Rangers and Sunderland boss is set to become the oldest coach in World Cup history.

Throughout Rutten’s short tenure, which included defeats by China and Australia in March, the FFK had been under pressure from players and sponsors to reinstate his compatriot Advocaat.

On Friday, the FFK put its full support behind Rutten, but just three days later, they said the 63-year-old had departed following “open and constructive” talks.

Curacao, the smallest country to qualify for a World Cup, face Germany on 14 June in their Group E opener, with more matches against Ecuador and Ivory Coast.