Advocaat to Miss Scotland Friendly and World Cup
Dick Advocaat, who was set to become the oldest coach in World Cup finals history at age 78, will not lead Curacao in their World Cup warm-up friendly against Scotland on 30 May. He has stepped down from his position as head coach for personal reasons.
The former Rangers manager had successfully guided the Caribbean island nation to their first-ever World Cup finals. However, he will be succeeded by fellow Dutchman Fred Rutten.
Advocaat described the achievement of leading a team from an island with a population of around 150,000 to the World Cup as the "craziest thing" he had accomplished in a managerial career spanning nearly 40 years.
Dutch media reported on Monday that Advocaat's decision to step down was due to his daughter's health.
"I've always said family is above football," he said. "So this is a self-evident decision.
"But, of course, that doesn't change the fact that I'm going to miss Curacao, the people there and my colleagues very much."
Advocaat's extensive coaching career includes managing the Netherlands, Belgium, South Korea, PSV Eindhoven, and Sunderland. He served as Curacao's head coach for two years.
Under his leadership, Curacao remained unbeaten over six games and secured their first World Cup finals appearance by topping their CONCACAF qualifying group ahead of Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago, and Bermuda.
Upcoming Matches and New Coach
Scotland, managed by Steve Clarke, will host Japan and Ivory Coast in March friendlies before facing Curacao at Hampden in their final warm-up match ahead of the World Cup in the Americas.
By that time, Curacao will be under the guidance of 63-year-old Fred Rutten, a former Netherlands defender who has managed PSV Eindhoven, Anderlecht, and Feyenoord.
Rutten recently returned to PSV as assistant to Ruud van Nistelrooy and served as caretaker manager following van Nistelrooy's departure in 2023.
Curacao will begin their World Cup campaign in Group E with a match against Germany in Houston on 14 June. Their other group opponents are Ivory Coast and Ecuador.
Scotland will start their tournament a day earlier against Haiti, with Brazil and Morocco also in Group C.
