Advocaat, 78, Set for World Cup Record After Curacao Return
Dutch coach Dick Advocaat, 78, is set to become the oldest head coach in World Cup history after returning to lead Curacao. The BBC examined his role in guiding the Caribbean nation to its first ever appearance at the finals.
Dutch coach Dick Advocaat, 78, is on track to set a new World Cup record as the oldest head coach in tournament history, after leading Curacao to qualification. According to the BBC, Advocaat returned to the Caribbean side after previously managing the Netherlands, South Korea and Serbia, among others.
Despite the country's small population, Curacao secured a series of surprise wins during qualifying to reach its first ever World Cup finals. Advocaat's experience-heavy squad management and defensively organised approach were seen as decisive in the rise. The BBC noted that most of the squad plays professional football in the Netherlands.
With Advocaat set to be 79 during the tournament, FIFA is expected to formally record a new age milestone. Curacao's first World Cup adventure will begin after the draw, with the tournament hosted in North America. The federation plans to announce its friendly schedule in the coming months.
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