Veteran manager Dick Advocaat has resigned from his position as head coach of the Curaçao national football team due to his daughter’s health issues.

The 78-year-old guided Curaçao to qualification for this summer’s FIFA World Cup, making them the smallest nation ever to reach the tournament. However, they will now have to compete without him.

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“I’ve always said that family comes before football,” Advocaat told ESPN.

“This is therefore a natural decision. But that doesn’t change the fact that I will miss Curaçao, the people there, and my colleagues very much.

“I consider qualifying the smallest country in the world for the World Cup one of the highlights of my career. I’m proud of my players, staff, and the board members who believed in us,” he continued.

Curaçao’s qualification marked a historic achievement, setting a new record for the smallest nation to reach a World Cup finals.

Advocaat’s long-time assistant, Cor Pot, and team doctor Casper van Eijck have also stepped away from their roles in support of him, while the remainder of the coaching staff will stay in place.

The ESPN report said Fred Rutten will take over as head coach.

Rutten, who spent his entire playing career with FC Twente, has previously led Twente, FC Schalke 04, PSV Eindhoven, Vitesse, Feyenoord and RSC Anderlecht.