Guus Hiddink might be undecided about his managerial plans
beyond next year, but they are likely to be shaped by the Chelsea owner
Roman Abramovich.
Russia and Hiddink touched down in London last night following their 3-0
win against Macedonia in Moscow and are due to train today at Wembley
ahead of tomorrow's crunch Euro 2008 Group E match.
Abramovich has a private box at England's new national stadium which is
estimated to have cost ?250,000 over three years and there will be few
more interested spectators tomorrow night.
Although Hiddink has the chance to demonstrate that the Football Association
made a mistake in their handling of his potential candidacy to replace
Sven-Goran Eriksson last year, he is believed to be high on the list of
possible successors to Jose Mourinho at Chelsea.
A dual role working alongside a younger coach at Chelsea while overseeing
what he calls Russia's "transition" has also been mooted.
Abramovich has ploughed millions into Russian football and played a key
role in the appointment of Hiddink as national coach last year, but if
his relationship with Mourinho does become irreparably damaged he may
face his own club-versus-country dilemma.
Abramovich helps fund Hiddink's ?1.5 million-a-year contract with Russia
which expires next year, as well as the salaries of other coaches.It has
been speculated that he has simply "parked" the Dutchman in
charge of the Russian national team for the eventual benefit of Chelsea.
The Dutch axis at Chelsea is already strong, with Frank Arnesen working
as youth director, while Piet de Visser, who was with Hiddink at PSV Eindhoven,
has been a scout and advisor to Abramovich.
Hiddink has admitted that he is in touch "now and then" with
Abramovich, although he has denied speaking about the Chelsea job.
At present, he talks only of the challenge with Russia, while keeping
his long-term options open.
"We are starting to get young people educated," he said. "Clubs
are starting to think and renovate their first team. Before the collapse
[of the Soviet Union] you could pick one or two talented players; now
every country must build its own team."
It would seem doubtful, though, that a coach with Hiddink's pedigree and
contacts would have no plans beyond next summer's European Championships.
His link with Chelsea is a theory, however, that may underestimate Abramovich's
commitment to transforming Russian football under Hiddink.
Abramovich's spokesman last night described his allegiance to Russian
football and sport generally as "long term".
"He subsidises many grass-roots programmes and is very interested
in programmes for children," he said.
,
11/09/2007
Russian ladies dream about happy marriage.
Click on a photo...
