WILLEMSTAD - The former FC Barcelona player, Patrick Kluivert, will oversee the Curaçao soccer team on an interim basis, replacing Guus Hiddink. He will lead the team in the next two commitments corresponding to the first round of qualification for the Qatar 2022 World Cup.

Guus Hiddink (74), has been infected with the corona virus and is now recovering from it.

Kluivert was already a technical advisor and national coach of Curaçao between 2015 and 2017. He now works as head of the youth academy at FC Barcelona. His contract there expires next summer and he is expected to leave.

Kluivert has received permission from FC Barcelona chairman Joan Laporta to act as interim coach of Curaçao at the World Cup qualifying matches next month.

According to the Curaçao Football Association, Laporta has given its approval to relinquish Kluivert, who has been in charge of FC Barcelona's youth academy since 2019, because of his good relationship with the Dutch.

"We wish Hiddink a speedy recovery and thank Kluivert for his availability and willingness to take the team under his wing for the coming period," said a statement.

Curaçao started qualifying for next year's World Cup in Qatar under Hiddink with two victories. In any case, Kluivert is on the bench in the next two duels with the British Virgin Islands (out on June 6) and Guatemala (at home on July 9).