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RUSSIA SEARCH FOR NEW LEADER, HIDDINK FOR NEW COUNTRY
On Saturday it became absolutely clear that Guus
Hiddink would not prolong his contract with the Russian Football Union.
He announced it in the Dutch press and on the same day RFU confirmed the
information.
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Guus Hiddink Photo SPORT EXPRESS
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On arriving to Moscow on 3 February the Dutch specialist
went to saying the well learned text: "I am ready to work with the
Russian national team with pleasure all the months till my contract runs
out, and we will see what comes next."
But he never expressed his desire to work in Russia for the next qualifying
cycle and prove that the failure in the matches against Slovenia was only
a sad incident.
At last Hiddink announced his decision not to continue his work after
30 June when his contract expires as the Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf
reported on Saturday.
"We arrived to an agreement in advance so that the Federation has
enough time to find a replacement for me," stated Hiddink.
As the Sport Express correspondent John Davies reports, the Russian Football
Union announced that Guus Hiddink reign as manager will not be extended
once his contract expires on 30 June.
The RFU stated that it, "expresses sincere gratitude to (Guus) Hiddink
for the huge and high-quality job he did as Russia coach. It is also necessary
to underline the major professional contribution of this able coach to
the development of Russian football in general."
Many had suspected this would occur particularly with the arrival of new
Russian Football Union president Sergey Fursenko, though in truth with
on-going rumours that Mr. Hiddink was considering a return to the club
scene and a variety of full-time tasks, each requiring a long-term commitment,
the decision was inevitable.
Mr. Hiddink has down a remarkable job in leading Russia since taking charge
in April of 2006. Russia has returned to its powerful place in the sport
during his tenure but now the RFU must build upon those successes and
formulate plans for not simply the upcoming UEFA EURO 2012 but a long-term
development plan that leads to the 2018 World Cup and beyond.
For Russia, the challenge is finding both a present day leader who can
immediately manage the vast talent tool but additionally coordinate and
stimulate the junior development program, with an eye towards a centralized
academy akin to France's Clairefontaine. Whether the task will fall to
a younger leader such as Alexandr Borodyuk or Igor Kolyvanov or a veteran,
such as Valeriy Gazzaev and Oleg Romantsev, remains to be seen. With the
Euro qualifying period in the near horizon, that question is likely answered
sooner, rather than later.
Andrey Arshavin, forward of Arsenal: "When I was told about it I
did not believe at first. I thought that was again some rumor on the Internet.
I am thankful to Guus for our mutual work. I think that all my teammates
pity now that he will depart. Hiddink spent a lot of time with us and
did his best for more than three years. We owe him our greatest achievement
in the career - bronze medals of the Euro-2008."
"It was very interesting to work with Hiddink. He always let me play
and said that I was a good player. That is why my impressions are very
good about our work."
Vasiliy Berezutsky, defender of CSKA: "I want to say thanks to Hiddink
for these three and a half years he worked with us. He was the first European
coach of such high a level in Russia and he impressed us a lot with his
professionalism, self-confidence and ability to achieve results basing
on his own ideas and potentials only."
"We learnt a lot from Guus and managed to make a real breakthrough
at the Euro-2008. But coaches change in the teams as well as the players
- this is the rule of life. So we will move further I hope forwards only."
Roman Pavlyuchenko, forward of Tottenham: "I think that the leave
of Guus is a great loss for the Russian football. By and large it is he
who made Europe watch our national team and its players and these players
including me had a chance to play in the leading European championships."
"We had a wonderful team and its main feature was wonderful atmosphere.
And now the national team will be different, I hope I will not be worse
only better."
"Personally all my recollections about Hiddink are positive. He is
an excellent coach and a good person and such a combination is rare. And
probably I will think of the time I worked with the Dutch as the best
moments of my career."
Sport
Express Daily, 15 February 2010
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