Russia names Advocaat new coach
Russia on Monday named Dutchman Dick Advocaat as its new football coach, handing him the mission of overcoming the bitter disappointment of failing to reach the World Cup finals.
Advocaat replaces fellow Dutchman Guus Hiddink, who became a national hero in Russia for the team's stellar performance in the 2008 European Championships but then could not guide the team towards the South Africa World Cup.
"Dick Advocaat will be appointed as the head coach of the Russian national side," the federation head Sergei Fursenko said in comments broadcast on state television.
"He is flying to Moscow and on Tuesday will present his proposals for working with the Russian football team," Fursenko said at a news conference in the southern city of Rostov-on-Don.
Ex-Rangers coach Advocaat is already well known to Russia's demanding football public, having coached Saint Petersburg team Zenit for four years and to a famous victory in the UEFA Cup in 2008.
At Zenit, he became affectionately known in Saint Petersburg and throughout Russia as the "Malenki General" -- the Small General.
May 17, 2010
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