At 78, Dick Advocaat didn’t just defy age—he rewrote football history. On October 15, 2024, the Dutch tactician guided Curaçao national football team to its first-ever FIFA World Cup qualification, securing a 1-1 draw with Jamaica in a tense CONCACAF qualifier that sent the Caribbean island nation to the 2026 tournament. With that result, Advocaat became the oldest manager ever to qualify a team for the World Cup, surpassing Otto Rehhagel’s 2010 record by nearly seven years. And here’s the twist: he’s done this after a career that once seemed to be winding down—twice.
A Manager Who Refused to Retire
Advocaat’s path to this moment has been anything but linear. After stepping away from management following his brief, turbulent tenure at Sunderland Association Football Club in October 2015, he publicly announced retirement. But by June 2015, he’d already reversed course, signing a new deal with Sunderland after the summer transfer window brought in familiar faces like Jeremain Lens and Ola Toivonen—players he’d coached at PSV Eindhoven. It didn’t last. Sunderland finished 19th in the Premier League that season, and Advocaat’s record there—four wins, six draws, nine losses—ended with a resignation that left fans wondering if his managerial days were truly over.They weren’t. Over the next decade, he drifted between national teams: Iraq in 2021, then a surprise return to international football with Curaçao. The island nation, population under 160,000, had never come close to World Cup qualification. But Advocaat, with his trademark calm and tactical discipline, turned them into a compact, resilient unit. They didn’t rely on star power—they relied on structure. On Tuesday night, they held Jamaica to a draw in Kingston, and suddenly, Curaçao was top of their group. The stadium fell silent. Then erupted.
The Smallest Nation, The Biggest Achievement
Curaçao’s qualification is historic not just because of the manager’s age, but because of the scale of the achievement. No nation with a smaller population has ever reached the World Cup. For context, Curaçao’s population is roughly half that of the city of Sunderland. It’s smaller than many English towns. Yet here they are, set to play on the biggest stage in football, alongside giants like Brazil, Germany, and the United States.“It’s emotional,” Advocaat reportedly said after the match, though he didn’t elaborate further. That’s typical of him—no grand speeches, no theatrics. Just results. His ability to extract maximum performance from limited resources has defined his career. At PSV, he won three Eredivisie titles. With the Netherlands, he reached the 2000 European Championship final. Even in Russia, he guided them to the 2002 World Cup quarterfinals. Now, he’s done it again—with a team that didn’t have a single player from a top-five European league on its roster.
From Sunderland to the Caribbean: A Career Rekindled
Sunderland fans didn’t forget him. On October 15, 2024, the club’s official Instagram account posted a simple message: “Congratulations to former Sunderland manager Dick Advocaat, who has led Curaçao to their first-ever World Cup! A history-making achievement for the smallest nation to ever qualify.” The post got nearly 15,000 likes. The comments? Pure nostalgia mixed with disbelief.“Swear he was retiring to spend more time with the wife like 10 years ago 😂 must have decided to fuck that off 😂”
“Could have sworn he was retiring 10 years ago 😂”
They’re not wrong. Advocaat has been on the edge of retirement since the early 2010s. He’s managed in Scotland, the UAE, South Korea, Belgium, and Russia. He’s won titles. He’s survived relegation battles. But this? This is different. It’s not about trophies or league positions. It’s about legacy. About proving that passion doesn’t have an expiration date.
What Comes Next?
The 2026 World Cup, hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, begins on June 11, 2026. Curaçao’s group stage opponents aren’t yet known, but they’ll face teams with ten times their population and ten times their budget. Advocaat, now 78, won’t be coaching in 2030—he’s said as much. But he’s not done yet. He’s assembling a squad of young Curaçaoan talents, many of whom play in the Dutch lower leagues, and instilling in them a belief that size doesn’t matter—only heart.His legacy isn’t just about breaking records. It’s about redefining what’s possible. A man in his late 70s, once written off as past his prime, leading a tiny island nation to the World Cup? That’s not just football. That’s inspiration.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Curaçao qualify for the 2026 World Cup?
Curaçao secured qualification by finishing top of their CONCACAF qualifying group after a 1-1 draw with Jamaica on October 15, 2024. They earned 13 points from six matches, including wins over El Salvador and Suriname, and crucial draws against Jamaica and Canada. Their defensive resilience and disciplined counterattacks under Advocaat were key, as they conceded only three goals in six games.
Who held the record for oldest World Cup manager before Dick Advocaat?
Otto Rehhagel, the German coach who led Greece to the 2010 World Cup, held the record at 71 years and 317 days old during their final group match. Advocaat, at 78, surpasses that by nearly seven years, making him the first manager over 75 to qualify a team for the World Cup—a milestone many thought impossible in modern football’s fast-paced environment.
What was Dick Advocaat’s record at Sunderland?
Advocaat managed Sunderland in two separate stints in 2015. His first tenure (March–June) ended with a 1-0 win over Newcastle in the Tyne-Wear derby. After briefly retiring, he returned for the 2015-16 season but resigned in October after just nine wins, six draws, and 19 losses across all competitions. Sunderland finished 19th in the Premier League that year, and he was replaced by Sam Allardyce.
Why is Curaçao’s qualification so significant?
With a population of roughly 158,000, Curaçao is the smallest nation ever to qualify for the World Cup. Previous smallest qualifiers like Iceland (330,000) and Trinidad and Tobago (1.3 million) had populations over eight times larger. Their qualification proves that football success isn’t tied to size or wealth—it’s about leadership, unity, and belief. Advocaat’s system turned underdogs into contenders.
Has Advocaat managed any other Caribbean teams?
No. Curaçao is his first Caribbean national team. Before this, he managed teams across Europe and Asia—including the Netherlands, Russia, Belgium, and Iraq—but never a Caribbean side. His decision to take the Curaçao job in 2023 was unexpected, given his age and past retirement announcements, but he cited the team’s potential and the chance to build something historic.
Where will Curaçao play their World Cup matches?
The 2026 World Cup will be hosted across 16 cities in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Curaçao’s group stage matches will be determined by the draw in December 2025. Given their travel logistics and limited fan base, they’re likely to be placed in matches near U.S. cities with large Caribbean diasporas—like Miami, New York, or Toronto—to maximize attendance and support.
