Veteran coach Dick Advocaat, who led South Korea to their first-ever World Cup away victory in 2006, could be on the verge of his third World Cup appearance as a manager. His departure from Curacao’s national team to care for his family has left the position vacant, sparking rumors of his return.
In February, the 78-year-old Advocaat stepped down from his role as head coach of Curacao to be by his daughter’s side during her illness. Now, just weeks before the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America, British broadcaster BBC reported that Advocaat has been persuaded by Curacao’s urgent request to return to the dugout. The veteran manager, who left a lasting impression on Korean fans for leading the national team to their historic away win in Germany, is also expected to become the oldest coach in World Cup history if he takes the helm again.
Advocaat’s initial decision to step away was firm. Despite guiding the small island nation of 150,000 people to an undefeated run in CONCACAF qualifiers and a miraculous qualification for their first-ever World Cup, he chose to prioritize his family and quietly returned to the Netherlands. At the time, he said, “As a coach, nothing is more important than family. My place now is next to my daughter, not on the bench.”
After Advocaat left, Curacao quickly struggled under his replacement, Fred Rutten. Two months ago, the team suffered disappointing friendly losses to China (0-2) and Australia (1-5). This led to growing calls within the squad for Advocaat’s charismatic leadership. Rutten himself acknowledged the players’ lingering loyalty to their former boss and resigned after just one month in charge. Advocaat’s influence clearly extended beyond that of a typical manager, igniting hopes for his return ahead of the World Cup.
Fortunately, his daughter’s health has recently improved, changing the situation. The heartfelt requests from waiting players, the passionate support of Curacao’s people, and encouragement from his own family have reportedly given the veteran the courage to step back onto the pitch.
Advocaat has shown genuine commitment to Curacao’s players. Jafar Arias, who now plays for K League 2 side Paju Frontier, recently revealed in an interview that the coach told him, “I highly regard the level of the K League, and your performance there will be a key factor in World Cup squad selection.” This illustrates Advocaat’s continued dedication even after leaving Korea, as he closely follows the football scene in both countries.
If Advocaat accepts Curacao’s offer, his team will kick off their World Cup campaign on June 15 against Germany in Houston, followed by matches against Ecuador and Ivory Coast. The veteran tactician, who worked a miracle to bring Curacao to the tournament and showed humanity by putting family first, is now writing the final chapter of his World Cup story at age 78, promising inspiration beyond results.
