Former Barcelona and Valencia striker Patrick Kluivert has confirmed that he will act as an advisor to the Curacao national team.
The Curacao Chronicle claimed on Thursday that the 38-year-old would be named the Caribbean island’s new boss, but the Dutchman says he has turned down the opportunity for now, instead taking up an advisory role with his motherland.
“My ambition remains to become Coach of a top club in Europe but until that time I will make myself available to help Curacao," he was quoted as saying by Reuters in Willemstad, the capital city of Curacao.
“I’d like to give something back to the island where part of my roots lie. I haven’t come here for a regular holiday but to try and put Curacao football in a strong direction.
Kluivert has been out of work since leaving his position as Louis van Gaal’s assistant with Netherlands, who finished third at the World Cup last summer.
Curacao became a FIFA member in 2010, when the Netherlands Antilles was dissolved, and are currently ranked 160th in the world.
The CONCACAF minnows kick off their qualifying campaign for the 2018 World Cup with a preliminary tie against Montserrat and have a number of Eredivisie players at their disposal.
If Curacao can overcome the British territory over both legs then they will face Cuba in the next round, a prospect which Kluivert admits could convince him into changing his mind.
“Maybe then I’ll take over as Coach. I'm open to the idea,” he noted.
Kluivert enjoyed a hugely-successful career, winning the Champions League with Ajax in 1995 and representing Netherlands on 79 occasions, scoring 40 goals and featuring at the 1998 World Cup.
However, his most renowned spell came at Barca, where he netted 120 times in 255 appearances between 1998 and 2004, lifting a La Liga title along the way.
