Curacao manager steps down less than a month before tiny country's World Cup debut

The smallest country ever to qualify for the World Cup has no manager with the first game of the tournament just a month away. Fred Rutten has stepped down as manager of Curacao, a nation with a population of just more than 150,000 people, the country's soccer federation confirmed Monday, May 11. The statement said that the board will meet today to decide on next steps with a news conference taking place Tuesday, May 12.

“There must not be a climate that harms healthy professional relationships within the team or staff. That is why stepping down is the right decision," Rutten said in a federation news release. "Time is pressing and Curaçao must move forward.

I regret how things unfolded, but I wish everyone the best. ” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Curaçao National Football Team (@thebluewaveffk) Rutten hadn't really had time to make much of an impression. The former PSV manager led Curacao in only two matches, falling to China 2-0 and Australia 5-1 in March friendly contests.

With 55-man provisional rosters due to FIFA on Monday, May 11, the Curacao squad was set to be announced May 12, but that now has been delayed. Will Dick Advocaat return as Curacao manager? Reports from Curacao and the Netherlands, of which Curacao is a constituent country, indicate that players and sponsors pushed to have Rutten removed in hopes veteran manager Dick Advocaat would return.