A former Barcelona star has been sacked from his national team coaching role after failing to secure a World Cup berth.
His tenure, filled with ambition to elevate a smaller footballing nation, faltered under the weight of inconsistent results, ending in a dismissal that reflects the unforgiving nature of the global stage.
The news serves as a reminder of the stark contrast between club glory and the challenges of international management.
Patrick Kluivert, the ex-Barcelona forward, was sacked as Suriname’s national team coach on October 15, 2025, after failing to secure a 2026 World Cup spot, as reported by Goal.
Kluivert, who scored 126 goals in 249 games for the Blaugrana, winning two La Liga titles, took charge in 2023. Suriname’s campaign started brightly with a 2-1 win over Guyana, but third-round qualifier losses to Guatemala (2-0) and Jamaica (4-0) left them bottom of their group with one point.
The federation cited “poor results” for ending his two-year stint.
Kluivert’s appointment aimed to transform Suriname, leveraging his experience as a Dutch international (40 caps) and coach with Curacao and Tottenham’s youth.
He secured a 2024 Nations League promotion, blending diaspora talent with locals, but World Cup qualifiers exposed tactical and defensive weaknesses, with only two wins in eight games.
“We built foundations, but results rule,” Kluivert said, accepting the decision.
Suriname now faces a rebuild, with interim coaches likely as the 2026 qualifiers loom. Kluivert’s Barcelona legacy—mentoring a young Messi—remains untarnished, but his coaching path, at 49, may shift to clubs, with Serie A links emerging.
The sacking underscores the brutal expectations of international football, where even a storied name like Kluivert faces scrutiny.
As Barcelona prepares for Girona and El Clasico, this news highlights the volatile stakes of coaching minnows, where ambition meets harsh reality.
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