Russian football union

Coach

Guus Hiddink is taking over as Russia's national team coach after the 2006 World Cup, the Russian Football union announced on 12th April 2006. Hiddink is a 59-year-old (April 2006) Dutchman, who led Holland and South Korea to the semi-finals of the last two tournaments. Hiddink is coaching Australia during the 2006 World Cup in Germany. Hiddink agreed to a 2½-year contract. Hiddink will receive two million euros per year for the first two years, with bonuses for good performance. If all goes well the plan is to extend the contract to 2010 for the World Cup in South Africa, should Russia make it.

Russia had been without a coach since November 2005, when Yuri Syomin quit after Russia failed to qualify for the 2006 Fifa World Cup in Germany.