WILLEMSTAD – Former Curaçao national football team coach Dick Advocaat has received encouraging news about the health of his seriously ill daughter.
According to his former assistant coach Cor Pot, the chemotherapy treatment she is undergoing is showing positive results. Pot shared the update during an appearance on the Dutch television program Vandaag Inside.
“The chemotherapy is working. That was very good news that he received. He is relieved,” Pot said during the broadcast.
Pot explained that the situation has had a significant emotional impact on the 78-year-old coach. “He was deeply affected by it. It cost him a few years of his life, so to speak,” he said.
Advocaat stepped down as head coach of the Curaçao national football team in February after it became known that his daughter was seriously ill.
During his tenure, Curaçao achieved a historic milestone by qualifying for the FIFA World Cup for the first time.
Following his departure, Fred Rutten was appointed as the new head coach of the national team. Assistant coach Cor Pot and team doctor Casper van Eijck also left the staff.
Pot noted that it cannot be completely ruled out that Advocaat might one day return to the Curaçao team.
“Dick sometimes says he’s stopping and then continues anyway. So you never know,” Pot said.
However, Pot added that Rutten’s contract does not include a clause that would allow Advocaat to reclaim the coaching position.
“That was never discussed,” Pot said. He also stated that he never considered taking over the position himself.
“Dick and I always work together. His bread is my bread,” he said.