Dick Advocaat quits Curaçao post after leading historic 2026 World Cup qualification | OneFootball

Dick Advocaat has resigned as Curaçao manager for personal reasons, despite steering the nation to a first-ever World Cup. The 78-year-old will not lead the team at the 2026 finals after two years in charge.

According to Sunderland Echo, the decision is linked to his daughter’s health. Had he stayed on, he would have become the oldest manager in World Cup history.

“I’ve always said family is above football. So this is a self-evident decision,” Advocaat said. “But of course that doesn’t change the fact that I’m going to miss Curaçao, the people there and my colleagues very much.”

Advocaat called qualification with the island of around 150,000 people the “craziest thing” of his near 40-year career. He will be succeeded by fellow Dutchman Fred Rutten, a former Netherlands international who has managed PSV, Anderlecht and Feyenoord.

He enjoyed a dramatic spell at Sunderland, appointed in March 2015 after Gus Poyet’s exit and delivering a 1-0 derby win over Newcastle on the way to survival. Safety was clinched with a goalless draw at Arsenal, then he briefly retired before returning on a one-year deal. He quit in October 2015 with the club 19th, posting four wins, six draws and nine defeats across his second spell.

Beyond Wearside, his career spans PSV, Rangers, Borussia Mönchengladbach, Zenit Saint Petersburg, Fenerbahçe in Türkiye and Feyenoord. Internationally he has led the Netherlands twice, plus Belgium, Russia, South Korea, Serbia, Iraq and most recently Curaçao, with Russia reaching the Euro 2008 semi-finals.

Source: Sunderland Echo