During a four-day visit to Russia last month, Hiddink was followed by
a horde of reporters, photographers and television camera crews, and mobbed
by well-wishers and autograph seekers.
While the Russian public have quickly fallen in love with the charismatic
Dutchman, who will be the country's first foreign manager, some of his
fellow coaches from Russia's old guard have given him the cold shoulder.
Former Russia manager Valery Gazzayev was one of the most staunch opponents
of Hiddink's appointment, saying a foreigner could never understand the
secret of the Russian soul.
"I strongly believe that being just a good coach is not enough to
lead our national team," said Gazzayev. "You must be a real
patriot, thoroughly understand our national identity, character and traditions,
and for that you must be born here."
Gazzayev, who last year became the first Russian coach to lift a European
club trophy when CSKA Moscow won the UEFA Cup, has queried Hiddink's standing.
"This year I was invited to attend an elite coaching course by UEFA
but I didn't see Hiddink there," Gazzayev said recently.
Another former Russia manager, Oleg Romantsev, also criticised the hiring
of the Dutchman, saying the Hiddink-led Australia used primitive tactics
at the World Cup.
Local media mocked such comments, pointing to Romantsev's own record as
Russia manager.
Romantsev coached Russia at the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea,
where they failed to progress from one of the easiest first-round groups.
The team were dubbed 'Jurassic' for using outdated tactics while the manager
was criticised for selecting an ageing squad and adopting an overly cautious
approach.
Gazzayev succeeded Romantsev following the 2002 fiasco but fared no better.
He lost to Georgia, Albania and Israel, prompting him to quit in August
2003.
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."
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.
Advocaat has nothing but praise for his fellow Dutchman.
"Guus Hiddink is a world-class coach and I think you should be very
happy to have him here," Advocaat told Russian media.
Russia's players also expressed confidence in Hiddink.
"I think Hiddink will bring a winning mentality to our national team,"
said Russia captain Alexei Smertin.
Yegor Titov, Spartak Moscow captain and one of Russia's most influential
players, added: "It's been a long time since we achieved anything
worthwhile.
"We're all starving for success and if Hiddink holds the key to our
future, than it doesn't really matter if he is Dutch, French or Italian.
He is our coach."
Hiddink will make his debut as manager in a friendly against Latvia on
Aug. 16 before the Russians begin their Euro 2008 qualifying campaign
by facing Croatia on Sept. 6.
, 02/08/2006
Russian ladies dream about happy marriage.
Click on a photo...
