WILLEMSTAD – Curaçao national team coach Dick Advocaat has not ruled out remaining in charge of the Blue Wave beyond the current period. The 78-year-old Dutch coach says he still has the motivation to continue working with Curaçao and is open to discussing a possible extension.
Advocaat told Dutch media that he is not ready to make a final decision about his future but indicated that he would not immediately reject the possibility of staying longer. The Curaçao Football Federation (FFK) is expected to announce in August who will lead the national team in the next period.
The experienced coach, who took charge of Curaçao ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign, said age is not currently a factor in his decision. According to Advocaat, he feels physically fit and still enjoys the challenges that come with coaching at international level.
Historic World Cup experience
Advocaat reflected positively on Curaçao’s historic first participation in the FIFA World Cup. The team suffered a heavy defeat against Germany in its opening match but later secured the first World Cup point in the country’s history with a goalless draw against Ecuador. Curaçao ended the group stage with a defeat against Ivory Coast.
The coach said the performance against Ecuador and Ivory Coast showed that Curaçao could compete at the highest level. He also highlighted the emotional impact of seeing Curaçao supporters travel and continue supporting the team despite the difficult opening result.
Building for the future
Advocaat believes Curaçao still has room to grow and could strengthen the squad by attracting additional eligible players. He pointed to players born in the Netherlands who have Curaçao eligibility but may currently still be waiting for opportunities with the Dutch national team.
According to the coach, Curaçao must remain realistic, but changes within the Dutch national team could create opportunities to convince talented players to choose the Blue Wave.
Advocaat has enjoyed a long international coaching career, having previously managed national teams including the Netherlands, Belgium, Russia, Serbia and Iraq. He was appointed head coach of Curaçao in 2024 and guided the team to its first-ever World Cup qualification.
A final decision on Advocaat’s future is expected after discussions between the coach and the FFK. For now, the veteran coach appears open to continuing the project he helped build: taking Curaçao football to a higher international level.