Just 34 days before Curaçao’s opening World Cup match against Germany, head coach Fred Rutten has resigned following player and sponsor protests, clearing the path for his predecessor Dick Advocaat to return.
The Curaçao Football Federation (FFK) confirmed the resignation on Monday. Rutten, 63, stepped down amid growing unrest within the squad and among sponsors, who had publicly called for Advocaat’s return.
Advocaat, 78, led the Caribbean nation to its first-ever World Cup qualification but resigned in February to care for his seriously ill daughter. Since then, the team struggled under Rutten, suffering heavy defeats in warm-up matches against China (0-2) and Australia (1-5).
The poor results sparked open protests from national team players and sponsors, who urged the federation to bring back Advocaat. The FFK initially stood by Rutten, but the pressure led to a reversal.
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“After an open and constructive conversation with the federation president, Rutten voluntarily made himself available to step down,” the FFK stated. Rutten explained his decision: “There can be no climate that harms the healthy professional relationships among players and coaching staff. Therefore, it is advisable to resign. Time is pressing, and Curaçao must move forward. I regret how the situation developed but wish everyone involved success.”
The FFK praised Rutten’s professionalism and responsibility. The board will meet on Monday to discuss next steps, with a press conference scheduled for Tuesday to clarify recent developments and potentially confirm Advocaat’s return. The World Cup squad is not expected to be announced at that time.
