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SPORTS> Feature and Column
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Soccer-Hiddink's appointment irks Russia's old guard
(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-08-02 09:41 Other Russian coaches, including ex-national team managers Yuri Syomin and Anatoly Byshovets, questioned Hiddink's ability to communicate with the players. "Obviously, Hiddink will have a language problem, so I don't know how effective his coaching would be," said Syomin, who quit as Russia manager last November after failing to guide them to the World Cup finals. A high-ranking Russian soccer official said privately that most of Hiddink's opponents were simply jealous of his success. "I just can't see any reason other than that," the official, who did not want to be identified, told Reuters. Officials in the Russian FA feared that club managers would refuse to co-operate and to give Hiddink information on the national team players. After some intense lobbying by Russian soccer chief Vitaly Mutko, who was responsible for luring Hiddink to Russia, Gazzayev was forced to softened his stance. He even briefly met the Dutchman following last month's CSKA league match at Zenit St Petersburg, saying afterwards: "I told Hiddink that I respect him as coach but I'm still opposed to the idea of hiring foreigners for our national team." HUGE SALARY Hiddink's huge salary, paid in part by Chelsea's billionaire owner Roman Abramovich, has also irked Russian coaches. According to media reports, Hiddink will earn close to $3 million per year. Bonuses could put that figure even higher. Mutko says the Dutchman will be worth every penny. Hiddink has achieved success at club and international level, winning titles with PSV Eindhoven and Real Madrid and leading the Netherlands and South Korea to the World Cup semi-finals. He also guided relative newcomers Australia to the second round of this year's finals in Germany. At least he will have no language barrier when talking to compatriot Dick Advocaat, who was named Zenit coach in late June after stepping down as manager of South Korea following their elimination from the World Cup finals. |
