Dick Advocaat Reverses Retirement to Save Sunderland, Then Resigns Amid Relegation Battle

When Dick Advocaat walked off the pitch at the Emirates Stadium on May 20, 2015, tears streaming down his face, it wasn’t just a win he’d secured—it was survival. Sunderland AFC, a club clinging to Premier League life, had just drawn 0-0 with Arsenal, leaving them safely in 16th place, three points clear of the drop. Advocaat, 67 at the time, had been hired barely two months earlier to do one thing: keep them up. He did. And then, in a move that stunned the football world, he announced his retirement.

From Savior to Retiree — Then Back Again

Advocaat’s appointment on March 17, 2015, came after the sacking of Gus Poyet, whose chaotic reign had left Sunderland in freefall. The Dutchman, known for his no-nonsense demeanor and deep tactical discipline, took over with just 11 games left. His first match? A 1-0 loss to West Ham. His first win? A 1-0 derby triumph over Newcastle on April 5 — a result that sent the Stadium of Light into delirium. The turnaround was real: wins over Southampton and Everton, a gritty draw at Stoke. By the final whistle against Arsenal, the fans knew: this wasn’t luck. This was leadership.

He’d done the impossible. And he was done.

But football, as it often does, had other plans.

Just over two weeks later, on June 4, 2015, Advocaat stunned everyone by reversing his retirement. He signed a one-year contract to lead Sunderland into the 2015-16 season. The club’s chairman, Ellis Short, hailed it as a "masterstroke." Advocaat brought back two familiar faces: Jeremain Lens, the Dutch winger he’d coached at PSV Eindhoven, and Fabio Borini, the Italian striker who’d once thrived on loan at Sunderland. The message was clear: continuity, loyalty, experience.

The Descent: When the Magic Faded

The 2015-16 season began with a thud. Seven games. Zero wins. Draws against Manchester City and West Brom. Losses to Hull and Tottenham. By early October, Sunderland sat in 19th place — deep in the relegation zone with just six points from 14 possible. Their goal difference? -7. The team looked flat, disjointed, out of ideas.

Advocaat’s only victory that season came in the League Cup — a wild 6-3 win over Exeter City on August 25, 2015. It was a rare flash of brilliance in a sea of mediocrity. In the Premier League, the team couldn’t score. Couldn’t defend. Couldn’t even muster a spark.

After a 2-2 draw at the Boleyn Ground against West Ham on October 3, the cracks became chasms. Players looked confused. Fans booed. The press turned on him. And on October 4, Advocaat resigned.

His final record at Sunderland? Four wins, six draws, nine losses across all competitions. A rollercoaster that began with tears of joy and ended in quiet disappointment.

Why It Mattered

Advocaat’s tenure wasn’t just about results. It was about identity. He took a club that had been flailing under Poyet’s erratic style and imposed structure. He trusted veterans, relied on discipline, and demanded effort. In March, that was enough. In October, it wasn’t.

The Premier League had changed. Teams were faster, more aggressive, more tactically fluid. Sunderland, under Advocaat, hadn’t adapted. His system, so effective in 2015’s lower-stakes final stretch, couldn’t survive the full-season grind.

And yet — his impact was undeniable. Without Advocaat, Sunderland would’ve been relegated in May 2015. He didn’t just save them. He gave them belief. That’s why his return in June felt like a gift. And why his departure in October felt like a betrayal — not by him, but by circumstance.

A Legacy Beyond the Tyne

Advocaat’s career spans more than three decades. He managed the Netherlands national team three times. He led Russia to Euro 2008. He coached South Korea at the 2002 World Cup. He won league titles in the Netherlands and Scotland with PSV and Rangers. He’s a man who’s seen it all.

But Sunderland? That was different. It wasn’t about trophies. It was about saving a club from oblivion — and then trying, desperately, to keep it afloat.

His resignation marked the end of his second stint in English football. He’d come back to the Premier League not for glory, but for duty. And when duty became impossible, he walked away — with dignity, if not with success.

His story at Sunderland is a reminder: even the greatest managers can’t fight gravity forever. Sometimes, saving a team from falling is the hardest thing you’ll ever do. And sometimes, staying up is even harder.