Dick Advocaat To Coach Russian Football Team Instead of Guus Hiddink

Dick Advocaat will be appointed Russia's new national coach, replacing his fellow Dutchman Guus Hiddink, the president of the Russian FA (RFU) said today.

Photo: Dick Advocaat To Coach Russian Football Team Instead of Guus Hiddink

Last month, the 62-year-old Advocaat resigned as Belgium's coach after just six months in the job and the Russian media have suggested he will sign a long-term contract to manage the country where he enjoyed success at club level with Zenit St Petersburg., The Guardian reports.

RFS president Sergei Fursenko, who worked with Advocaat at Zenit, said: "Advocaat's agreement with [the] RFS is for four years and comes into force as soon as Guus Hiddink's deal expires. Advocaat is workaholic, I know that from my own experience. He knows Russian football in and out, every player in detail. He doesn't need anything explaining; he can start work right away. Dick understands his task is to qualify for the coming European Championship and World Cup and to produce decent results there."

Like Hiddink, Advocaat has previously coached the Netherlands, Korea Republic and PSV Eindhoven, in addition to Rangers FC, VfL Borussia Mönchengladbach and the United Arab Emirates. He left Zenit in August 2009 after three years, during which time he led the club to its first Russian league title, in 2007, the 2008 UEFA Cup and the Russian and UEFA Super Cups, UEFA.com says.