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Just 34 days before their World Cup opener against Germany, Curaçao’s national team coach Fred Rutten has stepped down following widespread protests from players and sponsors. The Caribbean island’s football federation (FFK) confirmed the resignation on Monday, paving the way for the return of his predecessor, Dick Advocaat. FFK President Gilbert Martina told AFP on Tuesday that Advocaat’s comeback is official, though a formal announcement is still pending and could come during a press conference soon.
Advocaat, 78, led Curaçao to their first-ever World Cup qualification but left in February due to his daughter’s serious illness. His replacement, Rutten, failed to win over the squad, with the team suffering heavy defeats in warm-up matches—0-2 against China and 1-5 against Australia in March. The poor results sparked public protests from players and sponsors, who demanded Advocaat’s return. Initially, the federation backed Rutten, but the mounting pressure forced a U-turn.
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Rutten stated that after a constructive discussion with the federation president, he voluntarily offered his resignation. “A climate that harms professional relationships among players and staff cannot be allowed. Therefore, it is best to step down. Time is short, and Curaçao must move forward. I regret how things turned out, but I wish everyone success,” he said. The FFK praised Rutten’s professionalism and sense of responsibility. The board will meet on Monday to decide the next steps, with a press conference scheduled for Tuesday to explain developments since February and likely confirm Advocaat’s return. The World Cup squad has not yet been announced.
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