MOSCOW, Aug 2 - Guus Hiddink has not even started work as Russia soccer
manager yet he has already become the darling of local fans and media.
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.
OUTDATED TACTICS
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team were dubbed 'Jurassic' for using outdated tactics while the manager was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."
HUGE SALARY
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.
