Former Netherlands striker Patrick Kluivert is set to be named as the new head coach of Curaçao.
- By Michael Bell
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Kluivert left for Curaçao on Wednesday and will be presented as their new head coach on Thursday, in what will be the former Ajax, Barcelona and Newcastle United striker’s first job as a head coach.
The 38-year-old has held youth coaching positions with FC Twente, and PSV, while between 2012 and 2014 he was assistant to Louis van Gaal with Netherlands.
Curaçao became a member of FIFA in 2010 after Netherlands Antilles was dissolved, and are currently ranked 160th in the world. The Caribbean nation failed to qualify for the 2014 World Cup after finishing third in the second round group stage, behind Haiti and Antigua and Bermuda.
Kluivert will be handed the task of qualifying for the 2018 World Cup, and will have a number of Eredivisie players at his disposal with Twente defender Cuco Martina, Excelsior forward Guyon Fernandez, and Willem II’s Charlton Vicento all available for selection.
Curaçao start their qualifying campaign for the 2018 World Cup at the end of March with a first round tie against Montserrat, which will be Kluivert’s first game in charge. If they get past that tie they will then face Cuba in the next round.
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