With the appointment of Sergey Fursenko as the
new president of the Russian Football Union, rumours of Guus Hiddink's
future in-charge went into high gear.
Guus Hiddink Photo SPORT EXPRESS
With the appointment of Sergey Fursenko as the new president
of the Russian Football Union, rumours of Guus Hiddink's future in-charge
went into high gear.
For those following the ongoing saga of Mr. Hiddink's possible moves since
Russia's hopes for the World Cup ended in Maribor on 18 November, they
have not been short on rumours. Media accounts have suggested a variety
of moves, with many only having the common denominator that they are pure
speculation and often without merit. Undeniably, the manager is well regarded
within the profession yet the most challenging question that is rarely
if it all asked, is whether Mr. Hiddink is prepared for a long-term commitment
with Russia.
Though this seems to be a vantage that is really discussed it is possibly
the most important. Whilst there are many questions posed of his near
?6 million annual salary, said to be funded by Roman Abramovich, the over-riding
theme has ignored Russia's long-term goals of the 2018 World Cup, planning
for the Euro 2012 and possibly the farthest-reaching task, a comprehensive
overhaul of junior development programs.
Given that, Mr. Hiddink has reiterated that he will fulfill the balance
of his contract with Russia that runs through July 2010 the great decision
that needs to be made by the new president of the RFU is whether the Dutch
manager is prepared to make a long-term commitment that could very well
see out his career. How much the recent failure in World Cup qualifying,
that includes the heavily rumoured indiscretions of many players prior
to the Slovenia match that puts into question his control on players,
remains to be seen but clearly Russia must establish a formulate a plan
with a longer vision in-mind. In these types of situations the 'classic'
three quadrennial plan is a general timeframe but this makes the simple
assumption that manager is not an ongoing threat to depart.
Though there is no consensus on what will happen after the manager's contract
expires, many are suggesting that with the new president, will usher in
a staff that can seem them through these long-range plans.
