Dick Advocaat has resigned from his role as head coach of the Curaçao national football team with immediate effect, Softfootball can confirm.
According to a post shared by Fabrizio Romano on his official X handle, the 78-year-old veteran will not lead Curaçao at the 2026 World Cup despite guiding the Caribbean nation to a historic qualification.
Romano posted:
Dick Advocaat leaves his job as Curaçao head coach with immediate effect. Advocaat won’t lead the national team at the World Cup due to family issues.
The tournament, set to take place in the United States, Canada and Mexico this summer, will now proceed without the Dutch tactician in the dugout.
Advocaat revealed that his decision was driven by family concerns, specifically a serious health matter involving his daughter. In a statement released by the Curaçao Football Federation, he emphasized that family must always come before football.
he said:
I have always said that family comes before football. So this is a natural decision. That said, I will greatly miss Curaçao, the people there and my colleagues.
His tenure will be remembered as one of the most remarkable chapters in the nation’s sporting history. In November, Advocaat led Curaçao through a demanding CONCACAF qualification campaign, securing a place at the World Cup finals and making them the smallest nation ever to qualify, with a population of approximately 156,000.
Despite missing the decisive qualifier against Jamaica due to family circumstances, his leadership laid the foundation for the achievement.
The departure also means Advocaat will not break the record to become the oldest manager in World Cup history — a mark currently held by Otto Rehhagel, who was 71 years and 317 days old during the 2010 tournament in South Africa.
The Curaçao FA expressed full understanding and gratitude for his transformative impact. Chairman Gilbert Martina stated that Advocaat had written history with the national team and would always be appreciated for his contribution.
With the opening group-stage match against Germany scheduled for June 14, Curaçao have moved swiftly to appoint a successor. Fred Rutten has been confirmed as the new head coach.
The 63-year-old, formerly of PSV and Schalke, will prepare the team for group matches against Germany, Ecuador and Ivory Coast.
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