Dick Advocaat has experienced almost everything in his long career. Now he wants to crown his career at the 2026 World Cup as Curacao’s national coach – and annoy the DFB team.
Dick Advocaat (height 1.70 meters) worked hard to earn the nickname “Little General”. At many stages of his long coaching career, the now 78-year-old Dutchman, who was briefly coach at Borussia Mönchengladbach more than 20 years ago, acted with almost military severity. For him, maximum discipline was considered a primary virtue.
But in his old age, Advocaat seems to have undergone a transformation. As Curacao’s national coach, the veteran coach and his players were celebrated by the fans on a large stage after the World Cup dress rehearsal against Aruba (4-0). Advocaat smiled, Advocaat rocked to the rhythm of the music, Advocaat waved to the audience.
Curacao’s World Cup debut against the DFB team
This “new relaxedness” fits in well with the euphoria on the Caribbean island of Curacao. There is a virtual state of emergency in the country with a population of 150,000 before the World Cup debut on Sunday in Houston against Germany (7 p.m., live on ARD as well as in the live stream and audio stream on sportschau.de).
And in the middle of it all, Advocaat, who enjoys the hype. “It’s fantastic to be part of all this”said the Dutchman, for whom this will be his third World Cup as coach. In 1994 he was with “Orange” He has already been in the USA once and coached South Korea in Germany in 2006.
Advocaat will soon be the oldest coach in World Cup history
So now Curacao. A World Cup newcomer for whom the clock ticks differently. Advocaat, the oldest coach in the tournament and soon to be the oldest coach in World Cup history as Otto Rehhagel’s successor, knows that he has to give his players the freedom they need. Music is playing almost always and everywhere, and in preparation the training has even been moved to the beach.
This cultivates the habitus of being one of the big outsiders of the 2026 World Cup. You have nothing to lose, Advocaat makes it clear. Not even against the DFB selection. “It’s fantastic that we’re facing Germany right from the start. We know where we stand right away. You have to play against them anyway and it’s better to play against them right from the start. Hopefully we can surprise them in the first game.”he looked ahead.
“We certainly don’t have a chance”
Winning a point against Ecuador and Ivory Coast, the other opponents in Group E, would also be a big surprise, but Advocaat said their own ambitions are definitely there.
“We want to make it as difficult as possible for every opponent. And we certainly don’t stand a chance.”said the experienced coach. “Of course there are big differences to the opponents in terms of quality. But we want to sell ourselves as expensively as possible. Everyone can surprise.”
The resignation was followed by the return
Advocaat enjoys the World Cup trip with Curacao. Especially since the veteran almost didn’t take it on. In February, around 100 days before the start of the tournament, he resigned from his position to take time for his daughter, who was in poor health. He was followed by Fred Rutten, who resigned exactly a month before the opening game – and Advocaat, whose daughter is now doing better, promptly returned.
With this campaign, Advocaat has further consolidated his legendary status, which he has already achieved on Curacao with the Caribbean island’s first World Cup qualification. Also because he felt connected to his team. “What we have achieved is special”he emphasized.
Everything that comes now would be like an encore, every point gained would be a huge success. Curacao and Advocaat would then celebrate and be celebrated again. And the outdated image of the “little general” would continue to fade.