valencia-soccer news

Dutchman Hiddink to coach Russian squad

Russian federation head Vitaly Mutko said Wednesday that the two-year contract would be for two million euros ($2.8 million Cdn). However, federation spokesman Andrei Malosolov later said the contract would be for that amount for each year.

Hiddink, who currently coaches Australia and Dutch side PSV Eindhoven, would be the first foreigner to coach Russia's national soccer team. The Dutchman led the Netherlands to the semifinals of the World Cup in 1998, and then took South Korea to last four in 2002.

Last year, Australia qualified for its first World Cup in 32 years with Hiddink as coach.

Hiddink is expected to come to Moscow on Friday to sign the contract, which will be paid by the National Soccer Academy, the ITAR-Tass news agency reported. The non-commercial fund is headed by Roman Abramovich, the Russian oil billionaire who also owns Chelsea.

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

Hiddink, who has led PSV to six Dutch titles and the 1988 European Cup, has also coached Valencia, Real Madrid, Real Betis and Fenerbahce.

Former 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