Overview
- Advocaat, who led qualification last year and resigned in February for family reasons, was confirmed Tuesday to return and at 78 will be the oldest coach in World Cup history.
- Rutten resigned Monday, saying he wanted to prevent a climate that could harm professional relationships within the squad and staff.
- Dutch and international outlets reported strong pressure from the player council and leading sponsor Corendon, whose owner threatened to withdraw major funding unless Advocaat was restored.
- FFK president Gilbert Martina denied a player coup Tuesday and said Rutten chose to step down after negative press, then finalized Advocaat’s comeback the next day.
- The late switch compresses planning with a May 30 friendly in Glasgow and a June 14 opener against Germany, while Curaçao enters as the smallest country ever to reach the men’s World Cup.