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Hiddink is still 100 percent Russia coach, says adviser
By Gennady Fyodorov
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Guus Hiddink is fully committed to his job as Russia coach
at least until the end of his contract in June, his adviser said on Wednesday.
Hiddink's future has been a hot topic since Russia failed to qualify for
this year's World Cup in South Africa after being eliminated by Slovenia
in November's playoff.
Media reports have repeatedly linked the Dutchman with a number of top
European clubs and national teams, most recently Italy's Juventus.
Hiddink's adviser Cees van Nieuwenhuizen dismissed the reports as pure
speculation.
"As of now, Guus Hiddink is still 100 percent Russia coach and we
had not have any contract talks with any of the clubs regardless of what
the media, especially the Italian media, says," Van Nieuwenhuizen
told Reuters by telephone.
"Guus has just came back from a holiday in Africa and we plan to
meet this Sunday to discuss the situation with regards to his future."
The National Academy Fund (NAF), sponsored by Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich,
said this week it had stopped paying Hiddink's 7-million-euro ($10 million)
Russia salary as of Jan. 1, adding fuel to the speculation over his future.
Van Nieuwenhuizen said Hiddink would first talk to the new president of
the Russian FA (RFU) before making any decision.
The RFU is facing big changes since sports minister Vitaly Mutko was forced
to resign from his dual role as RFU president in November after Russian
President Dmitry Medvedev demanded all government officials in charge
of national sports bodies should be replaced by professional personnel.
Former Zenit St Petersburg president Sergei Fursenko, like Mutko a close
friend of Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, has emerged as the front runner
to head the RFU.
"Guus has had a proposal from Mutko to extend his Russia contract
for another two years," said Van Nieuwenhuizen.
"But now Fursenko is the likely (RFU) boss so it would be logical
for Guus to talk to him first before making any plans for the future.
That's where the situation is at the moment."
The RFU chief will be elected on Feb. 3.
Reuters,
13 Jan 2010
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