Dick Advocaat, the former Rangers manager, has returned to Scotland with the Curaçao national team ahead of a friendly match against Scotland. The 78-year-old Dutchman, who will become the oldest coach in World Cup history when Curaçao faces Germany on 14 June, recalled his successful tenure at Rangers during a press conference on Friday.
Advocaat's Rangers Legacy
Advocaat managed Rangers from 1998 to 2001, winning two league titles, two Scottish Cups, and one Scottish League Cup. He smiled as he was reminded that 27 years earlier, he had watched his Rangers team complete a domestic treble at Hampden Park. "I was quite successful in this stadium, so you have to be careful tomorrow," Advocaat said, referring to the upcoming friendly.
World Cup Ambitions with Curaçao
Advocaat led Curaçao to their first World Cup qualification, a historic achievement for the Caribbean nation ranked 82nd in the world. Despite resigning in February due to a family health matter, he was reappointed this month. "I was the coach who qualified with the team," Advocaat said. "Something happened at home, which was the reason that I stopped. I could come back and start again. That gives me a good feeling, to be a part of this tournament will be something special."
He acknowledged that Curaçao are underdogs but believes surprises are possible. "We are not the favourites, we know this when we start," he said. "But people who aren't favourites can surprise. Today, you can even go on with two or three points."
Steve Clarke's Scotland Ambitions
Scotland manager Steve Clarke, who recently signed a contract extension until the 2030 World Cup, expressed confidence in Scotland's ability to qualify regularly for tournaments. "We should be qualifying regularly for tournaments," Clarke said. "That is not to say we won't miss one now and again. A country of our size, there is the difficulty now with qualifying for tournaments. But to make sure we don't have long gaps between tournaments."
Advocaat's Future and Celtic-Rangers Idea
Advocaat mentioned that he intends to retire after the World Cup but continues to receive offers. "You must have a little bit of luck that people still want you at this age. If they don't ask any more, you are finished. I still get the phone calls, which makes it difficult to refuse."
He also recalled an old idea of Celtic and Rangers joining the English league, proposed by former Rangers chairman David Murray. "They were scared to do that so they refused. I still think that was a great idea. It will never happen. Celtic and Rangers are so big it is unbelievable – not everybody realises that."
Advocaat's return to Glasgow is a reminder of his past success and a prelude to his historic World Cup appearance with Curaçao.
