There have been so many fairytale stories surrounding countries qualifying for the World Cup but have there been any better than Curacao’s?
The Caribbean island will be the smallest nation to ever play in a World Cup next year after earning a goalless draw at Jamaica on Tuesday night to qualify for the finals in the Canada, Mexico and the United States of America.
The full-time whistle sparked jubilant scenes from the men in blue at Independence Park in Jamaica.
However, there was one noticeable absence.
The figure in question? Curacao manager Dick Advocaat.
The Dutchman wasn’t able to be attend after his wife was taken ill in their homeland. As a result he flew back to the The Hague in the Netherlands on Saturday to be by her side.
Speaking about it in the build-up to the match, he said: ‘It’s a very difficult decision to have to leave the boys here.
‘I’m making this decision with a heavy heart, but family comes before football.
‘From the Netherlands, I’ll stay in close contact with the staff and I have complete confidence in this group of players.’
And, as reported by Curacao.Nu, Advocaat watched Tuesday’s 0-0 draw from his from home – despite the time difference meaning the match kicked off at 2am in the Netherlands.
They add that he maintained phone contact with team manager Wouter Jansen, who relayed his instructions to assistants Dean Gorre and Cor Pot during half-time as they achieved World Cup qualification.
The Athletic also note that he stayed connected with the players post-match too by sending them a text which read: ‘Congrats. Incredible, fantastic, so good! What an adventure.’
The 78-year-old made history on a personal note too by becoming the oldest manager to reach a World Cup – surpassing the record of German Otto Rehhagel, who coached Greece at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa at the age of 71.
Next summer’s finals won’t be his first World Cup either, with the well-travelled Dutchman having led the Netherlands (1994) and South Korea (2006) in previous finals.
As well as managing at international level, Advocaat has had success at club level winning top-flight titles in the Netherlands (PSV Eindhoven), Scotland (Rangers) and Russia (Zenit Saint Petersburg).
He also had a spell in the Premier League at Sunderland, steering them to Premier League safety at the end of 2014-15 season before quitting in early October of the following campaign.
