Former Rangers manager Dick Advocaat is back in football after taking a job in charge of the Curaçao national team.
Despite being the age of 76, the legendary Little General has once again come back out of retirement to take charge of the 28th gig in a managerial career spanning over 40 years.
Following in the footsteps of fellow Dutch managerial luminary Guus Hiddink, Curaçao will be the eighth national team Dick Advocaat has managed in his career.Dick Advocaat to team up with ex-Rangers star in cosy Dutch colony post-retirement gig
The legendary manager has had three stints in charge of the Netherlands, whilst Dick has also coached the United Arab Emirates (2005), South Korea (2005-06), Belgium (2009-10), Russia (2010-12), Serbia (2014) and Iraq (2021).
There had been reports back in September that the Dutchman was considering coming out of retirement to take the role.
Dick Advocaat takes charge of Curaçao
According to the Associated Press, Dick Advocaat has signed a one-year deal with Curaçao as he looks to help them qualifying for the World Cup 2026 in the USA, Mexico, and Canada.
The deal also includes a one-year option meaning the manager could be in charge of the nation into his 79th year.
Advocaat is also tasked with trying to get Curaçao to the 2025 Gold Cup whilst the country has the chance to qualify for the 2024 Copa America.
The Dutchman’s technical team will include fellow Dutch footballing veterans Cor Pot and Kees Jansma, with Khalid Sinouh completing the management structure.
Having just retired from football seven months ago, Dick Advocaat appeared to have written a fairy tale ending to his career by stepping down at ADO Den Haag, the club were he started his playing career.
But for a manager who clearly struggles away from the beautiful game, the gig at Curaçao might just be a match made in heaven for the former Rangers boss.
Ex-Rangers manager can’t stay away
Curaçao is a former Dutch colony which earned it’s political autonomy in 2009 having been part of the Netherlands Antilles along with Aruba and Sint Maarten.
But the country is still considered a member of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and as a result holds close links to the country.
Considered a paradise island in the Caribbean which might be perfect for retirement, for a football fanatic like Dick Advocaat the job at Curaçao looks like a match made in footballing heaven.
Whilst the ex-Rangers manager will undoubtedly be taking this job as seriously and professionally as he has ever other gig he’s taken, the circumstances around it certainly appear to suit all parties.
Interestingly, the ex-Rangers manager is also set to link up with former Ibrox midfielder Juninho Bacuna with the small island nation.
The ex-Gers star – who is now at Birmingham City – is one of the nation’s most important players and Dick Advocaat is tasked with getting the best out of the Curaçao star.
Advocaat was Rangers manager between 1998 and 2001, winning two SPL titles, two Scottish Cups and two League Cups.
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