Dick Advocaat

Dick Advocaat is a Dutch football manager and former professional player born in The Hague on 27 September 1947.

Dick Advocaat is a Dutch football manager and former professional player. Born in The Hague on 27 September 1947, he played as a defensive midfielder. He has coached several national teams and club sides, including the Netherlands, South Korea, Belgium, Russia, Rangers, PSV Eindhoven, Sunderland, and Curaçao, and is widely known by the nickname “De Kleine Generaal” (“The Little General”).

Early life and playing career

Born in The Hague, Advocaat played as a defensive midfielder. His playing career lasted 18 years and included time in the Netherlands, Belgium, and the North American Soccer League with Chicago Sting.

Coaching career

Advocaat began coaching in the 1980s and went on to manage clubs and national teams across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. He had multiple spells with the Netherlands and also coached South Korea, Belgium, Russia, Serbia, Iraq, and Curaçao.

International tournaments

He led the Netherlands to the quarter-finals of the 1994 FIFA World Cup. He later coached South Korea at the 2006 FIFA World Cup and returned to World Cup management with Curaçao in the 2020s.

Honours and reputation

Advocaat is associated with successful periods at Rangers, PSV Eindhoven, and Zenit Saint Petersburg, and he earned a reputation as a disciplined, experienced coach. He is widely identified with the nickname “De Kleine Generaal.”