WILLEMSTAD, Curaçao — In a surprising turn of events, Curacao, the World Cup debutant, has parted ways with coach Fred Rutten, as reported by ESPN Netherlands. Dutch veteran Dick Advocaat is set to return as head coach, having previously led the team through their qualifying campaign.
This development comes just under five weeks before Curacao’s challenging opening match against Germany in Houston, raising concerns about the preparedness of the smallest nation by population to qualify for a men’s World Cup.
Rutten took over coaching duties in February after Advocaat, 78, decided to step down due to his daughter’s health issues (source).
During Rutten’s tenure, the team suffered defeats in two warmup matches in March against Australia and China, both held in Australia. Reports have surfaced that players expressed a desire to see Advocaat return.
“I regret the way things turned out, but I wish everyone involved the best,” Rutten stated in an announcement by the Curacao soccer federation. Rutten previously managed notable Dutch clubs like Twente, PSV Eindhoven, and Feyenoord, as well as Germany’s Schalke.
The federation is expected to hold a press conference on Tuesday to officially confirm Advocaat’s return to the coaching position.
Curacao will face off against Ghana, Morocco, and Saudi Arabia in also changing coaching staff since the World Cup draw in December.
As an autonomous territory within the Netherlands kingdom, Curacao has a population of approximately 156,000 and primarily fields players who were born and raised in the Netherlands.
In addition to Germany, Curacao will compete against Ecuador in Kansas City and the Ivory Coast in Philadelphia during the inaugural 48-team World Cup, which has allotted an extra three guaranteed spots for Concacaf teams.
Advocaat previously led the Netherlands to the quarterfinals of the 1994 World Cup in the U.S. and coached South Korea during the 2006 tournament in Germany.
Information from The Associated Press contributed to this report.