Yesterday, Dick Advocaat announced his intentions to turn down a new contact offer from Sunderland Football Club to retire from club management ending a career full of silverware.
Advocaat wept as the final whilst went at the Emirates Stadium after his side played out a goalless draw with Arsenal, which would keep the Black Cats in the Premier League for another season.
The 67-year-old has said that retaining Sunderland’s status in the Premier League was one of the high points of his career, despite winning league titles before with Celtic, Zenit St Petersburg and PSV.
The Dutchman joined Sunderland in March with the club hovering just a point above the relegation zone after Gus Poyet was sacked by the club shortly before after a run of poor results.
Sunderland fans have taken to Twitter to say their thank-you’s to the Dutch coach who has guided their club to safety this season.
Massive thanks to Dick Advocaat & thanks for the memories. Enjoy retirement you’ve certainly earned it after keeping us up 👏🙏👏
— Terry Unsworth (@WhiteEddy_83) May 27, 2015
All the best to Dick Advocaat on his retirement. Thanks for taking a risk, saving us and highlighting problems we’ve had for years #safc — David Allison (@davidallison88) May 27, 2015
Proper Nice chap Dick Advocaat ! Thanks for keeping us up and thanks again for another notch against them black and white dafties 😉
— Chris Tarn (@christarny) May 27, 2015
thanks for everything dick advocaat lets hope it was your age and retirement factor and not the fact ellis didnt give u the cash u wanted — steven reid (@stevenreid85) May 27, 2015
Thank you Dick Advocaat, us true #SAFC fans will never 4get what you’ve done 4 us
— Darryl Nellist (@DazN95) May 27, 2015
Many many thanks for the great short time we had together. #dickadvocaat #safc — ian clarkson (@ianthebrush) May 27, 2015
Good luck to Dick Advocaat massive thanks for what u have done at #SunderlandAFC and good luck 😭😭😭
— Andrew Thornton (@AndrewThornton7) May 28, 2015
