Dick Advocaat became the oldest coach to manage at the Men's World Cup this summer, but the 78-year-old isn't done.
The Curacao national team announced Wednesday, Sept. 9, that it has extended the Dutch manager's contract through July 31, 2027. That will see Advocaat lead Curacao into the 2026-27 Concacaf Nations League, which kicks off this month and the 2027 Gold Cup should Advocaat and Co. achieve qualification.
"We have achieved something special together, and I look forward to continuing to build on what we have accomplished with the players and staff," Advocaat said in a federation release.
Curacao made history as the smallest-ever nation to qualify for the Men's World Cup, but Advocaat missed the final game of qualification and left his post
to attend to a family health matter in the Netherlands. But after heavy defeats in March preparation matches under new coach Fred Rutten, the federation convinced Advocaat back in May to lead the team into the tournament.
Advocaat wiped tears from his eyes ahead of the first match, a 7-1 defeat to Germany, and there were few dry eyes among Curacao supporters after the second game, with goalkeeper Eloy Room making 15 saves to help the island of fewer than 160,000 people earn its first-ever World Cup point.
A constituent country of the Netherlands, Curacao is able to draw its roster from players who grew up in Europe and developed in top Dutch academies.
Curacao's first match post-World Cup is a trip to Costa Rica for League A play in the Nations League. The team then returns home for matches with Nicaragua and Trinidad and Tobago before traveling to Trinidad and Tobago for a return fixture.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Dick Advocaat staying with Curacao national team through 2027 after extension
