Russian soccer chief says Hiddink to sign contract Friday

The head of the Russian Soccer Federation said Tuesday that he expects PSV Eindhoven and Australia coach Guus Hiddink to sign a two-year contract as early as Friday to manage Russia's national team.

Photo: Russian soccer chief says Hiddink to sign contract Friday

"Today we reached an agreement with Guus Hiddink, the Dutch specialist, who should arrive in Russia on the 14th, and we should sign a contract with him," Vitaly Mutko said on state-run Channel One television.

"The contract today is intended for two years for the whole cycle of the European Championship," Mutko said. Hiddink "will be in Russia for a long time, conducting selection and the building and organization of Russian soccer."

A day after PSV clinched the Dutch league title, Hiddink said Monday that he was "in heavy discussions" with the Russian federation and that his agents were working on the final details of a contract to begin coaching Russia after the World Cup in July.

Mutko would not disclose Hiddink's salary, but indicated it would be within what he called the normal range for national team coaches, Ђ1 million-Ђ5 million (US$1.2 million-US$6 million).

Hiddink's contract with PSV expires at the end of this season. His commitment to Australia ends after the World Cup.

Hiddink led the Dutch to the World Cup semifinals in 1998 and guided South Korea to the semifinals of the 2002 World Cup. Last year, he qualified Australia for its first World Cup in 32 years.

Hiddink, who has led PSV to six Dutch titles, also has coached Spanish teams Valencia, Real Madrid and Real Betis, and Turkey's Fenerbahce.

Russia coach Yuri Syomin resigned in November, following less than a year at the helm, after his team failed to qualify for the World Cup despite never losing a match with him in charge, reports AP.

O.Ch.