WILLEMSTAD – Former PSV assistant and head coach Fred Rutten was appointed last month as head coach of the Curaçao national football team following the departure of Dick Advocaat.
Advocaat stepped down from the position citing family circumstances, prompting the Curaçao Football Federation to name Rutten as his successor.
The appointment means the Dutch coach will make his debut on the sidelines as a national team manager. With Curaçao, Rutten is expected to lead the team in upcoming international matches against Germany national football team, Ivory Coast national football team and Ecuador national football team.
However, the decision to appoint Rutten has not been universally welcomed. Noa Vahle, a reporter for Ziggo Sport, questioned the choice during the HNM Podcast with Helene Hendriks and Merel Ek.
Vahle said she found the appointment surprising and suggested that a more charismatic figure might have been preferable for the role.
She also mentioned former PSV coach Guus Hiddink as someone she would have liked to see in the position, although she noted that he reportedly does not have a strong relationship with the Curaçao football federation.
Rutten previously worked for several clubs in Dutch football, including PSV Eindhoven, where he served both as assistant and head coach. His appointment marks a new chapter for the Curaçao national team as it prepares for upcoming international competitions.