Former Rangers boss set to become World Cup record-breaker after managerial U-turn as Hampden beckons
The CONCACAF nation will face Steve Clarke’s Scotland in a warm-up match later this month.
Former Rangers boss Dick Advocaat could still become the oldest ever manager at a World Cup finals as minnows Curacao ‘open’ talks for him to return - only months after he stepped down.
The 78-year old former Rangers, Sunderland and Feyenoord coach helped the CONCACAF side qualify for their first ever tournament last year, but he stepped down in February due to his daughter falling ill. However, as her health has now improved, as well as the fact successor Fred Rutten has stepped down, the coast is now clear for Advocaat to take the reins again.
Should he be re-instated, the Dutchman will be returning to Hampden on May 30 - the same ground where he won three domestic cups with Rangers - for a warm-up friendly with Scotland. During his time in Govan, he also helped Rangers to two SPL titles. Curacao will face Germany, Ecuador and Ivory Coast on the grandest stage of them all next month.
Advocaat to return as Curacao boss
Former Rangers man Juninho Bacuna will also be representing the island nation, who have a population of less than 150,000. Since Advocaat’s departure, much pressure has been put on Curacao’s Football Federation (KFF) to reinstate him, after Rutten tasted defeat in consecutive friendlies against China and Australia. As sponsors Corendon Dutch Airlines threatened to cut ties with the National Team, Bacuna pleaded for calm.
He said: "I do think it comes across negatively to everyone. But we as players have to remain focused on the great things to come. It is not nice to hear that it is coming from the players, but I would rather not comment on it. We want to go there as fit as possible and achieve something great. We are trying to stay out of it as much as possible."
A month on, the BBC report that Rutten has departed after ‘open and constructive talks’ with the KFF and says he will support his successor no matter what. Dutch media have since suggested that Advocaat is ‘open’ to a return due to his daughter’s health improving. He had since taken up an advisory role at Feyenoord, where he’s been working for the past few months.
Ex Rangers man set for record-breaking return
Ex Greece boss Otto Rehhagel currently holds the title of oldest manager at a World Cup, as he managed his side in 2010 at the age of 71 years and 317 days. Advocaat would blow this record out of the water at the age of 78. He previously managed his native Netherlands at the tournament in 1994.
Advocaat has over 45 years of experience in the management game and lifted eight other major honours outside his six at Ibrox. He famously was the cause of Rangers’ heartache in the 2008 UEFA Cup Final, when his Zenit St Petersburg side beat them 2-0 at Old Trafford.
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