The legend of Guus Hiddink keeps growing.
He guided his native Netherlands to the semifinals at France in 1998 and his
run to the semifinals with South Korea in 2002 was nothing short of stunning.
Australia's Dutch born
coach Guus Hiddink gestures during the international friendly soccer match
against The Netherlands in Rotterdam.
[Reuters] |
Lining up for another shot on a short-term contract with Australia, he became
the first coach to guide teams from three confederations to wins at a World Cup
when the Socceroos scored three late goals in a 3-1 comeback win over Japan.
That was Australia's first ever win at the World Cup and its first goals at
the quadrennial event.
Can he do it again? The Australians don't doubt it.
"He carries an aura about him because he has been successful and he still
is," said Graham Arnold, one of Hiddink's assistant coaches at Australia. "So
the instant respect from the players and the public and everyone is big."
Hiddink's resume is full of trophies and marquee clubs. In two stints, he
guided PSV Eindhoven to six league titles and four Dutch Cups _ winning the
European Cup in 1998 along with the national league and cup double.
He also had time in charge at Real Madrid, Real Betis and Valencia in Spain
and Turkish club Fenerbahce.
The Australians can't help but be impressed by that record.
It's "not just that he's been at the World Cup, but the teams he coached in
his career," said midfielder Jason Culina, who played for Hiddink at PSV.
"Obviously he knows a thing or two and it would be stupid of us not to take it
all in."
Liverpool winger Harry Kewell describes Hiddink as a "great manager."
"I think (it's) the way he motivates a team," Kewell said. "The way he gets
them up there, the way he prepares, the way he gets them going. Organization."
Hiddink is a no-nonsense coach despite a somewhat short, lumpy appearance in
training gear. He oversees practice like a general directing troops.
His take-charge attitude does not end there.
When journalists started talking over each in his news conference, Hiddink
took charge and started assigning the order of questions. He answered in
English, German and Spanish.
And he stands up for his players. He showed genuine anger when confronted
with allegations his players commit deliberately dangerous tackles.
