Yesterday, Dick Advocaat bid an emotional farewell to football as the curtain came down on his fantastic management career.
The 73-year old is finally set to step out of the limelight and take life at a slower place.
His CV is as impressive as it is long – what a roll-call of clubs and countries it is.
Having started out as a coach way back in 1980, his journey is a fine roll of honour:
Netherlands (3 times), PSV (twice), Rangers, Borussia Moenchengladbach, UAE, South Korea, Belgium, AZ (twice), Russia, Serbia, Sunderland, Fenerbahce, Zenit St Petersburg, Sparta Rotterdam, Utrecht and most recently with Feyenoord.
The Advocaat era at Ibrox is synonymous with the Nike NTL kit, big Champions League nights under the lights, going toe to toe with heavyweights such as Bayern Munich, PSV and Valencia.
There was a treble, a double and the Oranje final at Hampden in May 2000.
Van Bronckhorst, Numan, De Boer, Flo, Mols, Reyna, Kanchelskis, Amato and Klos were just some of the names to arrive at Ibrox back in those open chequebook days.
Farewell
Alas, the time has come for a final retirement for ‘The Little General’
Early on, during Feyenoord’s 2-0 win over Utrecht, the emotion of the occasion was clearly etched on the face of a usually stoic Advocaat.
Dick Advocaat houdt het nu al niet meer droog 💔
#️⃣ #feyutr pic.twitter.com/Vu5SIlPGO8
— ESPN NL (@ESPNnl) May 23, 2021
By the time the final whistle came, he had no time for platitudes or hanging around.
Instead, the veteran coach made a beeline for the tunnel and the relative refuge of the dressing room area, away from the cameras so that he could compose himself.
Dit is wat het spel betekent voor Dick Advocaat! 💯❤️ pic.twitter.com/kJLKevVhQM
— ESPN NL (@ESPNnl) May 23, 2021
A character with a unique career, much like his personality – this farewell was typical Dick Advocaat.