Dick Advocaat has resigned as coach of Curacao, stepping down for personal reasons related to his daughter's health. Dutch media reported the decision on Monday.
Advocaat, who guided Curacao to their first World Cup qualification, stated that family always comes before football. He expressed his deep regret at leaving the team and the people he worked with.
During his two-year tenure, the 78-year-old described leading the Caribbean island nation to the World Cup as the most remarkable achievement of his nearly four-decade managerial career. He would have been the oldest coach in World Cup finals history.
Fellow Dutchman Fred Rutten, a former Netherlands defender and manager of PSV and Feyenoord, will replace Advocaat. Curacao is scheduled to face Germany in their World Cup opener on June 14.