Advocaat returns for third spell as Netherlands coach
Veteran coach Dick Advocaat was appointed by the Netherlands Football Association as Dutch coach for the third time on Tuesday
- Sports
- Published Date: 12:00 | 09 May 2017
- Modified Date: 12:11 | 09 May 2017
The Netherlands have turned to veteran coach Dick Advocaat once more in an attempt to rescue their bid to reach the 2018 World Cup finals in Russia.
The 69-year-old Advocaat was appointed by the Netherlands Football Association (KNVB) as Dutch coach for the third time on Tuesday with the team sitting in a perilous fourth position in World Cup qualifying Group A.
Legendary Dutch player Ruud Gullit, a member of the 1988 European Championship winning team, has been named Advocaat's assistant.
Previous boss Danny Blind was sacked in March following a 2-0 loss to Bulgaria. The Netherlands trail group leaders France by six points with five games remaining in qualifying and are three points behind Sweden in a potential play-off place.
Advocaat is currently in charge of Turkish outfit Fenerbahce and will see out the season with them before officially beginning the Dutch job in June. He previously led the Netherlands 1992-94 and 2002-04.
The Netherlands face Morocco on May 31 and the Ivory Coast on June 4 in friendly matches before resuming World Cup qualifiers against Luxembourg in Rotterdam on June 9.