Dick Advocaat has been around the block, but his latest managerial feat caused him to show his emotions in a new way.
Advocaat cried on the field at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday after his Sunderland team confirmed its Premier League survival with a goal-less draw against Arsenal, Sky Sports reports.
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Advocaat took charge of a slumping Sunderland on March 17 and presided over a fine late-season upturn in form. Sunerland won three, drew three and lost two of its games under Advocaat, performing at the standard of a club which is chasing a spot in Europe rather than one fighting to avoid the drop to the Championship (English second division).
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“It’s unbelievably important for the club that we stay up,” Advocaat said, according to Sky Sports. “We’ve come far. If you look at the last six games, the team is working unbelievably in training but also in the games.”
“But this gives us an unbelievable feeling that we did it by ourselves and that’s the reason why everybody now has to be very, very happy.”
In a postgame press conference, Advocaat told reporters these tears were the first of his 31-year coaching career, according to The Telegraph’s Henry Winter.
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Sunderland will play its last game of 2014-15 on Sunday, and Advocaat’s contract expires after this season. Advocaat and Sunderland will decide whether to stay together next week. Regardless of what happens, they already have accomplished something worth crying over.
Thumbnail photo via Twitter/@SkyFootball
