Overview
- Curaçao’s federation confirmed Fred Rutten resigned on Monday, saying he left to preserve stability and healthy staff relations.
- The federation has now confirmed Dick Advocaat’s return to lead the World Cup campaign after stepping aside in February to care for his daughter.
- Local reports say senior players urged Advocaat’s comeback, and the main sponsor, Corendon airline, threatened to pull support after the tournament if he was not reinstated.
- Rutten’s brief tenure covered two March friendlies that both ended in defeat, 2-0 to China and 5-1 to Australia.
- Advocaat, 78, is set to coach Group E underdogs drawn with Germany, Ecuador, and Ivory Coast, with a June 14 debut in Houston that could make him the oldest head coach in World Cup history.