Dick Advocaat has been appointed as Netherlands assistant

Dick Advocaat has been appointed as assistant to Netherlands boss Danny Blind ahead of the country's qualification campaign for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

The Dutch football association said the 68-year-old will join the squad for a training camp in Portugal next Sunday as they prepare for friendlies against the Republic of Ireland, Poland and Austria.

Advocaat has been out of work since deciding to leave Sunderland in October after he had led the club to Premier League safety the previous season.

Netherlands head coach Danny Blind will work with Advocaat

The Netherlands are rebuilding after a poor campaign saw them fail to qualify for Euro 2016 this summer in France.

Blind said: "It is good that we can call on his experience and know-how. I'm looking forward to working with him."

Advocaat kept Sunderland in the Premier League before resigning in October 2015

Former Rangers and PSV manager Advocaat has been head coach of the Netherlands twice as well as serving as assistant on two occasions.

At international level he has also had spells in charge of South Korea, Russia, Serbia and Belgium.