MOSCOW, April 12 (RIA Novosti) - The Russian Football Union Wednesday approved Guus Hiddink's candidacy as head coach of the national soccer team, the union's president said.
Vitaly Mutko said Dutchman Hiddink, 59, would arrive in Moscow April 14 to sign a two-year contract worth 4 million euros (about $4.8 million). It was reported earlier that the overall cost of the contract was 2 million euros, but the RFU press service later said the contract provided for 2 million euros per year.
Mutko said that Hiddink would also help to develop Russia's under-21 soccer teams.
In an effort to improve the game of the Russian national team, Hiddink will work with a team of three assistant coaches, who are also from Holland. Alexander Borodyuk, who signed a contract with the RFU in December last year for the post of senior coach for the national team and head coach for the under-21 team, will also help Hiddink raise the team's performance.
Mutko added that Hiddink would not only function as team coach but also work to develop a single training system.
"We want all youth soccer teams to play the same soccer," Mutko said. "We intend also to create a single selection system."
Previous coach Yury Syomin resigned from the post last year after the team failed to qualify for the finals of the 2006 World Cup in Germany.
Hiddink is currently coaching Dutch club PSV Eindhoven and Australia's national team, but has already said he will leave both posts at the end of the season.
