Hiddink says he is set to become Russia coach

Z_Ho

AMSTERDAM, April 11 (Reuters) - Dutchman Guus Hiddink says he is almost certain to take over as coach of Russia after the World Cup.

ADVERTISEMENT


"We are working out the minor details of the contract and when that is finished I will join them," Australia and PSV Eindhoven coach Hiddink told the Holland Sport TV programme on Monday.

His agent Cees van Nieuwenhuizen told Dutch TV the contract will last two years with an option for two more. Hiddink is expected to be named as Russia coach within the next eight days.

Russia failed to qualify for the World Cup in Germany, which runs from June 9 to July 9.

If he agrees his four-year deal with the Russian Football Union (RFU), Hiddink will be in charge until the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Hiddink is part-time coach of Australia, who qualified for the World Cup for the first time since 1974.

John Boultbee, head of high performance for the Football Federation of Australia, said his organisation had known for a while that Hiddink would be leaving the job.

"Guus informed us some time ago that he was looking at several offers for after the World Cup," Boultbee said in a statement.

"We have known for some time that it was not going to work after the World Cup and have put steps in place for the future.

"However, our focus and Guus's is squarely on the next three months, he is in constant contact with us about the detailed planning for the World Cup campaign and he is Aussie Guus rather than Ruski Guus for a few months yet."

Hiddink announced last month that he would end a four-year spell at PSV by leaving the Dutch club at the end of this season.

On Sunday, PSV clinched their 19th league title and sixth under Hiddink, who also managed the team in the late 1980s.

Since his arrival in Eindhoven in 2002, PSV have won the title in 2003 and the double two years later, when they also reached the Champions League semi-finals.

The 59-year-old coach reached the semi-finals of the last two World Cups with Netherlands and South Korea respectively.

During his negotiations with the RFU, Hiddink said he also held talks with English Premier League champions Chelsea's billionaire Russian owner Roman Abramovich.

"I spoke with Abramovich, who wants to help lift the Russian national team to a higher level," said Hiddink.

CLOSE FRIEND

Abramovich, who is financing an ambitious programme designed to improve Russian soccer, is a close friend of RFU chief Vitaly Mutko.

The Russians have been without a coach since November when Yuri Syomin quit after they failed to qualify for the World Cup.

Hiddink said he would have a free hand to run the team the way he wanted.

"As national coach you are given a free hand to work like you are used to, like I have as coach of Netherlands, South Korea and Australia," said Hiddink. "Nobody puts the slightest obstacle in your way."

He said last month that his decision to leave PSV was caused by a combination of factors.

This season Hiddink publicly clashed with chairman Ron Westerhof.

Hiddink said his backroom team would be a combination of Dutch and Russian staff.

"I will form a Dutch staff but also with a Russian who knows Russian football," said Hiddink. "We have to analyse the situation and get the team afloat."

Hiddink had been mentioned as a contender to take over from Sven-Goran Eriksson when the Swede quits his role as England coach after the World Cup.

But Van Nieuwenhuizen poured scorn on the idea on Sunday, telling the BBC: "He definitely won't be the England manager.

"In spite of all the rumours he has not been in England and the FA have not been to Holland for a serious interview."