When it comes to Dick Advocaat, the scriptwriters were rendered redundant long ago. Quite simply, the man known as The Little General has had more comebacks than Sinatra. Over the past ten years or so, as he moved past retirement age and into his 70s, there have been various moments when he could easily have called it a day.
A Career of Many Returns
His last job on British shores was a brief stint with Sunderland in 2015. Having steered the club away from relegation, Advocaat left early in the next season when it became clear another dogfight was on the cards. 'The struggle against relegation is not my cup of tea,' said the Dutchman with typical bluntness after resigning. 'It is time for someone else to take over.' Advocaat was 68 at the time. Many others would have retired. Rarely can the twilight of a manager's career have been extended into the next decade. He has held another eight jobs since leaving Sunderland; in total, he has held 28 managerial positions throughout one of the most colourful and well-travelled careers imaginable.
Oldest Manager in World Cup History
At the grand old age of 78, he is now preparing to become the oldest manager in World Cup history when he takes charge of Curacao, beating Otto Rehhagel's record (71) with Greece in 2010. A warm-up friendly against Scotland at Hampden on Saturday will see Advocaat return to the country he once called home, having managed Rangers between 1998-2001. He won five major trophies during his time at Ibrox, and has won 14 major honours in total during a managerial career which has spanned 1,162 matches and five decades.
Curacao: A Personal Journey
Advocaat has seen it all, done most of it twice — and still keeps on coming back for more. His latest story with the minnows of Curacao speak of a certain romance and personal sentiment. With a population of just over 150,000, Curacao is roughly the same size as Dundee. A tiny island in the Caribbean, they are also the smallest nation ever to qualify for a World Cup. In their qualifying campaign, Curacao went unbeaten across their 10 matches, seeing off the likes of Haiti, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago.
Regrettably, Advocaat took the decision to step down back in February due to personal reasons around his daughter's health. Having forged such a strong bond with his squad, the players were desperate for him to return when his successor, Fred Rutten, resigned. The majority of players in the Curacao squad have Dutch heritage and, listening to them speak, it is clear they view Advocaat as a father — perhaps even grandfather — figure. Following improvements to his daughter's health, Advocaat agreed a couple of weeks ago to return to the role and lead the nation into the World Cup.
World Cup Challenge
Curacao will face Germany, Ivory Coast and Ecuador in their section. They will be huge underdogs, albeit with the most experienced manager in the tournament at the helm. This will be Advocaat's third World Cup with a third different country; having managed his native Holland in 1994 and South Korea in 2006. As a player, Advocaat emerged in the 70s, at a time when the Dutch were taking the world by storm with their elegant brand of total football. He was no Cruyff or Neeskens, and never actually won a cap for the national team. But the seeds were planted and he knew that he wanted to pursue a career in management.
A Global Journey
And so began a quite epic journey that would take him from Holland, to Germany, England, the Middle East, Scotland, South Korea, Belgium, Russia, Serbia, Turkey, Iraq and Curacao — with plenty in between. Advocaat will always be revered by Rangers supporters. There was the victory in Europe over a Parma side who were UEFA Cup champions at the time. There was Champions League football. There was the acquisition of some star names, as well as the nurturing of homegrown talent like Barry Ferguson in midfield. Advocaat won a Treble in 1999 followed by a Double the following year. For all the club may have been spending beyond its means, there was no denying they had a top-class manager. In 2008, he would come back to haunt Rangers by masterminding Zenit Saint Petersburg's victory over his old club in the UEFA Cup final in Manchester.
Adaptability and Legacy
What defines Advocaat's managerial career is his longevity and his ability to adapt. He is a tactician and a man who sets standards and makes demands of his players. In an age of data analysts, sports scientists and social media hype, Advocaat remains a football man forged in simpler times, yet adaptable enough to thrive in new cultures. His return to Curacao carries deeper resonance. In a World Cup expanded and globalised, it symbolises football's widening embrace. A tiny nation competing on the grandest stage of all, guided by a man who has bridged eras.
At its core, management is as much about presence and wisdom as sprinting up and down sidelines like a man possessed. Advocaat's value lies in his calm authority, his ability to instil belief in players who, for many, this will be their career zenith. The story of Curacao will bring a little bit of magic to the World Cup, a fairytale story. Indeed, there is something poetic that the smallest ever nation in a World Cup should have The Little General at the helm. Together they will stand tall. The competitive spirit that burns deep within Advocaat will ensure they do not go to America purely to make up the numbers. In this remarkable managerial odyssey, he continues to find new lands to conquer.
