WILLEMSTAD – Dick Advocaat is set to return to the Curaçao national team in an advisory role, the football federation announced, following a disappointing start under new head coach Fred Rutten.
The move comes after Curaçao’s 2-0 defeat against China in a friendly match in Australia, which raised concerns about the team’s readiness ahead of the upcoming World Cup.
Advocaat, who previously guided Curaçao to World Cup qualification, will not take over coaching duties but will act as an advisor to Rutten. The federation hopes his presence will provide stability and experience, as well as ease growing pressure surrounding the new coaching staff.
Criticism of the team’s performance has been mounting. Dutch football journalist Valentijn Driessen described the display against China as inadequate, stating that the team lacked structure and confidence after the opening phase of the match.
“There doesn’t seem to be a clear plan since Rutten took over. The players look uncertain and disorganized,” Driessen said, warning that such performances are unacceptable in the lead-up to the World Cup, especially with another test match against Australia approaching.
The appointment of Advocaat is seen as an attempt to create a “shock effect” within the squad and bring renewed focus. While he is not expected to be actively coaching on the pitch, his influence behind the scenes could prove significant.
Meanwhile, uncertainty remains about the role of assistant coach Cor Pot, amid reports that he was recently seen traveling with Advocaat in the Netherlands.
Curaçao will be looking to improve quickly as preparations continue, with upcoming matches expected to test whether the changes can stabilize the team ahead of the global tournament.