WILLEMSTAD - Despite his retirement at the age of 76, national coach Dick Advocaat is making a return to football. He will be the head coach of the national football team of Curaçao, taking over from interim coach Dean Gorré, with Cor Pot, Kees Jansma, and Khalid Sinouh as additions to the technical staff. The quartet has signed a one-year contract with the possibility of extension.
Following his departure from ADO Den Haag in the summer of 2023, Advocaat now faces his first task as a national coach on Curaçao's territory. With an impressive resume, having previously managed various clubs and national teams, including PSV, Feyenoord, AZ, and the national teams of Russia, Belgium, and the Netherlands, Advocaat demonstrates that he is far from done with the coaching profession.
Curaçao, currently ranked 90th in the FIFA rankings, aims for participation in the Gold Cup, while secretly dreaming of participating in prestigious tournaments such as the Copa América and the World Cup. The team, featuring players like Kevin Felida (RKC), Nathan Markelo (Fortuna Sittard), and Juriën Gaari (RKC), is ambitious. Under the guidance of former coach Gorré, the team was eliminated in the Gold Cup qualifiers, securing only one victory against Trinidad and Tobago.
However, Gorré will not leave the association but will assume a different role. He will become the coach of the national women's team and take on the role of 'Technical & Development Director,' with a primary focus on youth development.