The SE columnist visited the home of the famous coach who led the Russian national team to bronze at Euro 2008.

Igor RABINER
from Amsterdam

Hiddink's smiling dark-skinned driver closed the door of the front seat of the coach's jeep behind me. While fastening my seat belt, for some reason I decided to ask Gus and his friend Elizabeth, who were seated behind me: “Did you know that in your years in Russia fines were still small and almost no one wore a seat belt?”

In response, Hiddink chuckled:

“Of course, I know. I’ll tell you more. The drivers not only didn’t buckle up themselves, but were also offended when you, as a passenger, touched the belt! They were indignant: “Don’t you trust me? Do you think I can’t drive?!”

Over the eight years I’ve known him, I’ve gotten to know Gus quite well and didn’t think that he could really surprise me with anything. Especially after he once showed the word “maybe” written in a notebook in Cyrillic and before my eyes in paint - and very accurately! - Elizabeth described what it means. And when I asked why he needed this, he answered: every such word reflects the psychology of the people living in the country. And you need to know them in order to work better with the team.

But the story with seat belts, you see, is no weaker.

Guus HIDDINK and Elizabeth. Photo by AFP

How does Gus know our history? If he began to list Stalin, Brezhnev, Gorbachev, it would not be surprising, everyone knows them. But when from Hiddink’s lips I heard the names of Gromyko (with mention of details of the hairstyle of the former USSR Foreign Minister) and Shevardnadze... When the phrase was heard: “In some book I read that Andropov was poisoned”...

And let someone tell me after this that the coaching profession and success in it are about schemes, composition and substitutions. About them too, of course. But first of all, it’s about people.

I approached Hiddink's Amsterdam townhouse on the banks of the Amstel River and became more and more worried by the minute. We talked dozens of times in different hotels. I also happened to visit Gus’s hometown - Varseveld - at the presentation of his book, and talked with his parents and brothers. But this was the first time he invited Hiddink to his house, where Hiddink has been living for eight years. A home where you immediately feel the soul. However, how could he have it any other way?..

Ten minutes drive from the old center of Amsterdam. The building was built in the 18th century. Tall ceilings that go somewhere into the sky. Enchanting view of the river. In the basement there is a fireplace, a bar counter and a huge screen. There the coach lights a good cigar and watches many matches every day.

On the floor above there is a study and a dining room. There are many relics on and near the walls. A hanger with several T-shirts on it. Two of them are from the Russian national team, scarlet and white. On the white one are the autographs of all the players. Of course, this is a memory of Euro 2008.

The entire corridor is covered with photographs. Here is Gus on the coaching bench with Alexander Borodyuk. And here - at a reception with Dmitry Medvedev with the Russian national team and the then president of the RFU Vitaly Mutko. “Have you ever communicated with Putin?” - “Only by phone.” - “They say you have excellent relations with King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands?” “Last November, he invited me to accompany him on a trip to Korea.”

Friday. Amsterdam. At Guus HIDDINK's home, one of the main relics is the Russian national team T-shirt from Euro 2008. Photo - Igor RABINER, "SE"

But Hiddink is not one of those who likes to trump high-profile acquaintances. In my opinion, he is more willing to list the much less famous people with whom he maintains contact. And this is not only Borodyuk and Korneev, but also the former sports director of Anzhi Khasan Bidzhiev, and the manager of the Russian national team Evgeny Savin, and the deputy general director of the RFU for international issues Ekaterina Fedyshina, and Anzhi translator Grigory Tikhonov... The latter, by the way, was at Gus’s house a week earlier.

So Russia remained in Hiddink’s big heart. And I became convinced of this every minute, not only from the T-shirts and photographs, but also from what he and Elizabeth talked about.

CHORUS FOR ELIZABETH AND MATRYOSHKA FOR GUS

- What was the most touching moment during your stay in Russia? - I asked Hiddink. He passed Elizabeth's question with one touch.

It was 2007, the day of the match with England - the same one in Moscow that Russia won - came the answer. - It was my birthday that day. And late in the evening after the game, the two of us, in a great mood, go to a restaurant in the center. Nobody knows about it - neither that we went there, nor about our birthday. Let's have dinner. And suddenly a group of Russian national team players appears there with a bouquet of flowers, hands it to me and starts singing “Happy Birthday to you!” in Russian!

Gus: - As it turned out, they had dinner in the same area, a couple of restaurants away. And they found out where we were: they had their own sources of information! They came and started singing! The Berezutsky brothers and many others were there.

Elizabeth: - In the end, who am I to them? It was simply incredible and touched me to the core.

Gus: - And me. It was very touching. How can you not miss Russia after this? She holds a special place in our hearts. The culture, the people - they are so warm and welcoming once you get to know them! And we are open to discuss any topics. In particular, historical ones - both tsarist times, and Soviet, and post-Soviet ones. We were very curious to learn a lot of things that they willingly and openly shared with us.

Elizabeth: - Moreover, people corrected me - this, they say, happened not in Soviet times, but in another time. They did not remain silent out of politeness, did not nod, but patiently explained what and how. And this deepened our understanding of the issue. Because they care!

Gus: - We constantly remember Russia. And now, when someone says something bad about her, we simply talk about our experience. You need to be very careful with prejudices. We had a wonderful time in Russia.

At the PSV stadium, one of the VIP boxes is named after Hiddink. Photo - Igor RABINER, "SE"

-Have you ever cried during your years in Russia?

Elizabeth: - There was one stupid story. Before Gus signed a contract with the RFU, they told me so much nonsense about Russia! And I was intimidated, I even cried a little. She asked: “Maybe we won’t go? Maybe you won’t sign?” But he was adamant, he was interested.

And now I come to see him in Russia for the first time. I'm shaking all over. We walk a little away from the hotel, and then Gus is seen from some car. She stops and the driver gets out. Then he looks around, starts frantically looking for something, climbs back into the car and comes out, holding something in his hands.

I was stunned: it must be a gun! She whispered to Gus: “He’s going to shoot us now!” And the man holds out a pencil and a piece of paper: “Gus, Gus! Sign, please!” And I felt so ashamed...

Gus: - And Gus Ivanovich?!

- What - Gus Ivanovich?

Elizabeth: - Six months before we left Russia, I noticed that people often addressed him: “Gus Ivanovich!” She asked: “Why do people call you that?” He explained: "Because they treat me special."

Gus: - I didn’t say that. Because there is nothing special about me!

Elizabeth: - Oh yes, I started making inquiries myself. At that moment I was just taking Russian lessons and already knew that your people have two names - the first is yours, the second is from your father. She told the essence of the situation and asked: why is Gus called that? The Dutch don't have this!

And they explained to me that since Gus is treated with great respect in Russia, they gave him a second, Russian, name. And she told it to him. This is amazing!

Gus: - And I also miss the address “Gus Ivanovich” (smiles). We haven’t been to Russia since we worked at Anzhi.

- By the way, the President of Dagestan Ramazan Abdulatipov presented you with a carpet with your image. They didn’t take you to Holland?

No, too big (smiles). When leaving, I gave it to the wonderful people who worked at the hotel in Makhachkala where the team stayed.

Elizabeth: - And how I wanted to pick him up! Gus, did you even take a photo of this carpet?

Gus (thinks) : - I’m not sure, we’ll have to look. But sometimes you need to give gifts to good people. They gave us so many of them in Russia!

Ramazan ABDULATIPOV and Gus KHIDDINK. Photo of FC Anzhi

Elizabeth: - One of the most memorable souvenirs, we keep it at home, is a nesting doll with Gus’s face. And inside - with the faces of the national team players. She was drawn especially for us. And they gave pictures...

Gus: - We ourselves loved to walk around Moscow and buy paintings - we still have a lot of them. And it’s not like the works of famous artists were just wandering through flea markets and looking for something original.

Elizabeth: - At first we walked along Old Arbat, but quickly realized that this was a facade, the tip of an iceberg.

Gus: - One such market was located near the monument to Peter the Great, on the banks of the Moscow River. We walked there very often. And we discovered two artists whose work we really liked.

BORODYUK HELPED ME UNDERSTAND THE RUSSIAN SOUL

- Is your famous victory at the head of the Russian team over Holland still remembered here?

Certainly! We didn’t just win, we did it very beautifully.

- By the way, the memory of that victory of ours was not one of the reasons why you were invited to work with the Dutch team again?

Well, definitely not. I was very disliked here at that time! I felt it. Do you know what many people charged me with the most? Not even that he beat his country. And the fact that he rejoiced wildly! "How could you?!" Wait, but this is a victory for my team - and at that moment it was Russia! I am not so obsessed with the national idea that I work for one team and worry about another. Yes, I celebrated with all my heart. For which I later received angry responses by email and more...

- What is it about the Dutch character that resonates so much with the Russian mentality and allows coaches to quickly adapt to us?

We are open! And we are very happy when, seeing this, they open up to meet us. Lisa and I walked this path and realized that if you have more or less integrated into the Russian way of thinking, felt it, then people will reciprocate your feelings. Of course, this takes time - but as soon as Russians begin to trust you, they put their whole soul into it, devote themselves to the job to the end and even more. This is what happened to the Russian team.

- Openness is good, but somewhat general. Something must contribute to deep penetration into the country.

A huge thank you to everyone I worked with. To all team staff. I learned a lot from my assistants Sasha Borodyuk and Igor Korneev. Borodyuk explained to me everything about the Russian soul - and how it is projected onto football. How players from Russia thought before and now. This was invaluable information. Thanks to Sasha, I greatly accelerated my entry into Russian football, it became much easier for me to bring my ideas into it.

Guus HIDDINK and Alexander BORODYUK. Photo - Alexey IVANOV, "SE"

- And at the 2014 World Cup, Fabio Capello did not have Russian assistants, with the exception of goalkeeper coach Sergei Ovchinnikov.

Recently I saw our former - and very good - captain Semak on the bench next to Fabio! With a beard!

- He joined Capello’s headquarters after Brazil. And the current coach of Spartak, Murat Yakin, has no local assistants at all. Do you think this is a mistake?

Each coach has his own philosophy and strategy, they must be respected, and I do not consider myself entitled to criticize my colleagues. But no matter what country or club he worked in, he always tried to get coaches on his staff who knew the situation from the inside. After all, not only the team must get used to the coach, but the coach must also get used to the team. And abroad this is doubly important. In our case, without understanding the Russian soul in general and the Russian soul in football, it would be difficult to achieve much.

- You spoke about Borodyuk and Korneev. Is it any surprise that they have never worked as a head coach in the Premier League, while Van Marwijk's two young assistants at the 2010 World Cup, Frank de Boer and Phillip Cocu, are now in charge of two of Holland's top clubs, Ajax and PSV? In my opinion, this shows the difference in attitude towards young coaches in the two countries.

I'll tell you about my experience. When I first took charge of the Dutch national team in 1995, we had several former players who wanted to get into coaching. And we in the federation helped them. We offered them a good course and the opportunity to work with me on the national team, which is what they did at the World Championships in France. It was Rijkaard, Neeskens and Koeman. And they became coaches.

This is our Dutch tradition, style. We love to educate both young coaches and young players. And now I’m doing the same thing in the national team - only the role of those guys is played by Ruud van Nistelrooy. He was a big player, but that alone is not enough. Now he is moving to a new level of thinking and at some point he will understand whether he has the desire to do this. And last year I was a consultant at PSV with Phillip Cocu. It was a very nice and beautiful gesture from my former player.

As for Borodyuk... The fact that Sasha brought Torpedo to the Premier League with his small budget shows how good a professional he is. I don’t know why he left, but if he made such a decision, then something was going wrong at the club. And he turned out to be brave enough not to put up with it. I love him both as a person and as a coach.

But it seems to me that it is impossible to generalize. Here Slutsky is one of the coaches of the younger generation, but he already has a wealth of experience at CSKA, they trust him, he wins. Or another friend of mine - Cherchesov, who works at Dynamo. Last fall I was at their victory in Eindhoven against PSV, and after the game he allowed me to look into his team's dressing room. How many acquaintances were there - Gabulov and the rest! I was very glad to see them all.

Guus HIDDINK and Leonid SLUTSKY. Photo by Alexander FEDOROV, "SE"

THE LIMIT DOES NOT HINDER SHATOV’S PROGRESS

- During the 2014 World Cup, many in Russia missed your attacking football. Were you surprised that our team played anti-Hiddink football - tight, over-organized?

I was upset that the team didn't make it to the second round. Before the tournament I hoped that this would happen. Although I was worried about Korea - it’s also not a foreign country to me. But based on quality, I thought Russia would make it. Alas, this did not happen, and it seems to me that the first match played a big role here.

However, I repeat: I think it is wrong to judge the work of other coaches. I’m ready to talk about my period with pleasure, but not about what happened after.

- Fine. How did you manage to remove the psychological grip from the Russian team? Frank de Boer told me that you give players much more freedom than Louis van Gaal, but not everyone knows how to use it...

Freedom is an insidious concept. We must understand that it is very closely related to responsibility. First of all, the player must clearly know the requirements for his position. And by fulfilling them, he can already improvise and create within this framework. This is real freedom. And the ability to do whatever you want is anarchy!

At first Russian team there was a small problem. The players did their job - but no more. You couldn't blame them for anything - the responsibility was okay. But they could not rise to a higher level.

Guus KHIDDINK "educates" Alan DZAGOEV in front of Igor AKINFEEV and Sergei SEMAK.

- What was the turning point?

As a coach, I had to make the players feel safe. I had to convince them that if they gave themselves completely to the game and did what they were asked to do, I would protect them, even if we lost. That the main requirement is complete dedication, and for one mistake not related to irresponsibility, they will not be driven to hell.

Gradually they became convinced of this. And we felt free in a good way. And the football qualities of Zhirkov, Arshavin and others initially made it possible to play in good football. It was only necessary to liberate them, to explain that the coaches have the same goal as they do. That we are not enemies!

When football players constantly feel under threat, they become enslaved and intimidated. But their reaction changes when they see that coaching decisions are not based on punishment for wrongdoing. And an honest and fair assessment of their game.

- Many in Russia believe that the current generation of the national team is weaker than the one you coached.

Look here. I am happy for Oleg Shatov, with whom it was a pleasure to work with him at Anji. I'm impressed by the progress he's made. Another proof of this was the Zenit match in Eindhoven. There, at the moment of a sharp counterattack by PSV, he made a dash towards his goal and, in a tackle, interrupted Depay’s pass, which could have turned into a goal. And in general he played well.

Shatov for me is proof that talented young Russian players have a very good technical foundation. He definitely wants to reach great heights - to play for the national team, to be a valuable football player for Zenit. In addition to his abilities, Shatov has the right mentality and enormous drive. And he is not alone.

- Don’t you think that the limit on foreign players is preventing his generation from developing? Because of him the guys are too at a young age receive too many benefits.

What is the limit now - 5+6, as before? Or 4+7?

- 4+7. But soon, apparently, there will be 5+6 again.

This is good.

- But why?! Russian football players live without natural competition. And top clubs, in order to lure the best of them, give them clearly inflated salaries.

A good, motivated player does not think about money first. Of course, he must provide a good life for himself and his family. But Shatov’s example proves that not all Russians are spoiled by money. If you give Shatov a ruble, he will play; if you give him ten, he will still play. Because he loves the game, and the economy will automatically follow.

Much depends on the player’s environment. Yes, you can spoil young guys with high salaries too early. But you can create a system in the club - where money directly depends on the quality of the game. This will be great to increase motivation, which at its core should come from the love of the game.

Oleg SHATOV pleases Guus HIDDINK to this day. Photo by Alexander FEDOROV, "SE"

- What do you still think about the limit?

When I headed the national team, I liked this rule. And not only because Russian football players had guaranteed practice, but because it forced clubs to train young players. Five on the field meant that there had to be at least ten in the cage. And this forced us to increase the shift.

In fact, this desire should come from the clubs themselves - but if there is a rule, then it also obliges. If it weren’t for him, most clubs would have all foreign players playing, and many clubs would give up on their academies altogether. That's why I liked the limit. And he didn’t interfere with the team.

IN 2018 I HOPE THAT RUSSIA WILL GO TO THE SEMI-FINALS

- What do you expect from the Russian team at home championship peace? Now she is only 33rd in the FIFA rankings. Do miracles happen?

It is our duty to create these miracles. Leaving the group is mandatory. And then... I hope to reach the semi-finals.

- Wow! Just like at Euro 2008. Isn't that cool?

Yes, it's difficult. And this is more of a hope than a clear assessment of possibilities. But if you don’t have such concepts as dreams and hopes in your heart, why live and work at all?

- By the way, in August 2006, when you started in the Russian national team, it took the same 33rd place! And after 22 months I took Euro bronze.

Here! There are still more than three years until the World Cup. You can accomplish a lot during this time. But the federation and coaches should already have clear ideas about which players will compete in 2018.

June 27, 2008. Moscow. Guus HIDDINK and his “bronze” team are back in Russia.
Photo by Alexander VILF

- Holland is a well-known talent factory. Russia has big problems with this.

In addition to high-quality work in academies, it is very important not to be afraid at a young age, at 17-18 years old, to put guys on the first team. This is exactly the case in Holland.

It’s also a pity that a football center for the country’s national teams was never built in Russia. I remember how we drove around the Moscow region, looking at construction sites. It's a shame that this did not become a reality - after all, we have already discussed specific things. Such a center, if it had been built a few years ago, would have helped organize the entire structure of football and improve the quality of preparation for the 2018 World Cup.

- Last December, a large coaching conference of Dutch specialists took place in Utrecht, in which both you and your friend Johan Cruyff participated. Why was it held?

Cruyff and I are not exactly close friends, but we respect each other very much. And despite the compliments you made about Dutch football, we think it needs to be improved. Because there isn't a lot of young world-class talent in Holland right now. Those who at 23 - 24 years old are ready to move into best clubs Europe. So they talked about how to improve the level of training of young coaches, and through them, young football players.

By the way, on those same December days, at the headquarters of the Dutch federation in Zeist, I had the pleasure of speaking to Russian students of sports management. Because the entire football community needs to grow and renew itself - coaches, players, and managers.

- I know that for the sake of that speech before the students of the RMA business school, you left the coaching conference a little earlier and were even criticized for this in the Dutch press.

You are well informed (smiles). But I promised my Russian friends to do this! And I'm used to keeping my word. When journalists asked for clarification about the reasons for leaving, I explained that I had made a promise to speak to future Russian sports managers and could not let them down.

OLD LEV IGNASHEVICH AND ZHIRKOV, EQUAL TO ROBERTO CARLOS

- Would you advise Shatov, Dzagoev, Kokorin and other young people to go to Europe?

I don’t want anyone to think that Hiddink is persuading players to leave their clubs. This is wrong. But in general, after some experience in Russia, if they want to take the next step, get into a higher-class league, experience another culture, I'm for it. Because the guys will gain new experience and then use it in their home country.

I once had several conversations with Wenger - he called about Arshavin before signing him. Arsen knew what kind of player Andrei was, but he wanted to understand what kind of person he was. I also spoke with Andrey. "You have to do this. Even if you have a very good life in Russia." For financial reasons, Russian football players do not need to go to Europe, but for sporting reasons, they do. And the fact that Arshavin moved to Arsenal was respected and encouraged.

Andrey ARSHAVIN is one of Guus HIDDINCK's favorite football players. Photo by Alexander FEDOROV, "SE"

- Why did he shine only at the beginning of his career with the Gunners? Why did he never rise to the level he showed in famous match in Liverpool?

I wouldn't say he only had one great performance, when he scored four goals at Anfield. In the first one and a half to two seasons, Arshavin had many strong matches. I don’t know what happened next. Maybe the intense competition took its toll, maybe somewhere age has already begun to approach. But I like that he decided to do it and looked very convincing at Arsenal at first.

- Maybe if Akinfeev did the same, he would move to a new level? And didn’t make any fatal mistakes at the 2014 World Cup?

Even the strongest player can make a mistake. Well, in general, Igor had the potential to play in one of the top teams in Europe. Now this moment has probably already passed. If he wanted to, he should have done it 3 - 5 years ago. But even now I am happy to follow the achievements of him and the other group of guys with whom we worked together at CSKA.

- Are you surprised that 35-year-old Ignashevich is still a member of the national team?

He has tremendous experience! Ignashevich is an old lion, and the young ones will have to try hard to oust him. This means they fail, but the lion is still strong. Well done, Sergey!

- Largely thanks to you, a whole group of our players went to England, but they never became stars there.

Elizabeth adores Pavlyuchenko. He's in her Hall of Fame! (laughs.)

It was Guus HIDDINK who managed to wake up Roman PAVLYUCHENKO in the national team uniform.
Photo by Alexander FEDOROV, "SE"

- Of course, on her birthday, when Russia beat England, it was Pavlyuchenko who scored a double. And, by the way, he told me that in his life he personally played for two coaches - Vladimir Fedotov and you.

I remember Fedotov, we met several times in the office of the Moscow club, where he was one of the managers. And Roman is a great guy! Just like Bilya. David Moyes called me about him and I said, 'You should take him because he's a fantastic player.' So talented and smart! I also love Yuri (Zhirkov. - Note "SE") - a special person, not like others.

- Is he more closed and silent?

Everything was fine with me, we got along great. In general, of all the football players I have dealt with during my coaching career, Zhirkov is the most gifted left-hander! Of course, also Roberto Carlos. But what Yuri could do was amazing.

They are almost the same. Zhirkov is a huge talent, he could deal with anyone one on one. I loved looking at him. And Chelsea... There are injuries and competition with Ashley Cole. By the way, they could have a very good bunch, if Yuri played over Ashley. Imagine this! But they rarely had such a chance.

- Was it difficult to convince Zhirkov to become a full-back? He always considered himself an attacking player.

Yes, but it's about the same as with Roberto Carlos. Officially, they are listed on the diagram as full-backs. But de facto they play wingers, since they have both the technology and strength to dominate the entire flank. They are more wing forwards than defenders. And there is always the opportunity to insure them, to cover the free zone. I hope Zhirkov will still prove himself at Dynamo.

Guus HIDDINK was the first to recognize Yuri ZHIRKOV as a talented defender.
Photo by Alexey IVANOV, "SE"

- But Saenko, the only foreign player at Euro 2008, will no longer prove himself as a player. Have you heard that he got fat and ended his career?

In my time, Ivan played in the Bundesliga, and the players there are superbly prepared physically. Better than anywhere else. And then there were no complaints about his form!

- We have listed those who, thanks to you, came to England, but we forgot about you. Do you communicate with Roman Abramovich regularly?

I wouldn't say so. But I know that we will always be warmly welcomed at Chelsea. When I left there, I was told: we will always be glad to see you!

- Do you regret that working with the Blues in the spring of 2009, when you won the FA Cup and were very close to the Champions League final, did not last so long?

It was a wonderful experience. But I was devoted to the Russian national team and after the period at Chelsea I had to focus on it. I said to Akinfeev, Ignashevich, Arshavin and the others: “I won’t leave you!” And Abramovich and I agreed on the same thing in advance. Although I had a very good time both in the Premier League and in London. But Moscow is also beautiful!

May 30, 2009. London. Chelsea - Everton - 2:1. Head coach England team Fabio CAPELLO congratulates Guus HIDDINCK on the FA Cup. Photo by AFP

- Do you understand now what happened in Maribor? After all, this absolutely did not fit into the logic of that qualifying round.

Yes, after all, both matches against Germany were played more than decently. And it’s a shame that that team couldn’t go to South Africa. We were just one goal short. But I think that everything was decided not by the goal we conceded in Maribor.

- And what?

We didn't give ourselves reliable scoring distance in Moscow when we should have. We played very well, we were leading 2:0, we had excellent chances to score a third, but instead we conceded at the end of the day. This was our game. And when you miss what you gained in your game, you often pay for it later.

- After Dick Advocaat left for PSV, you, who was working at Anzhi at that time, were not invited to return to the Russian national team?

I don't remember. But I'm not offended. The Federation decided that Russian football will enter a different era. Eru Fabio. Their right. And I worked in the Russian national team for a decent period of time. But there was a change of presidents - Mutko focused on the Ministry of Sports, and Fursenko came to the RFU instead. We only had one polite meeting with him. There was no talk of extending the contract.

YOU WERE CALLED TO THE HOLLAND TEAM TEAM WHEN I WAS AT ANJI

- You left Anzhi after the second round of the last championship. Did you think there would be a collapse soon?

There was some information that a change in strategy was coming. Not in detail, but I realized that the club would soon become different. Only the owner has the right to determine such things, and I respect Kerimov’s decision. But in this situation I preferred to say: “Let’s separate.”

At the same time, I really like that in Makhachkala they kept the academy in its original form and it is still headed by Fuat Usta, my assistant in the Turkish national team. This means that Anzhi takes foundation issues seriously. This will definitely benefit the first team and is generally good for the region.

In general, I am glad that Russia turned out to be open enough to support my initiative and bring young Dutch coaches to them - such as Henk van Stee, who headed the Zenit academy, Jelle Goes, who worked at CSKA. Not everyone is cut out to be on camera, but many Dutch people have the knowledge and love to go abroad and teach young players.

- Van Stee is now the sports director of Zenit. Where is Jelle Huss?

Technical Manager of the Dutch Football Federation. Let's work together!

- Were you surprised when you were called to the national team?

I've been asked to come back for years. One of the offers came when I was at Anzhi. I refused because I had a contract and I liked working with the team. And some time after parting with Anzhi, the federation contacted us again. And I agreed - because I was free, and it was also about working with young coaches.

Guus HIDDINK and captain of the Dutch national team Robin VAN PERSIE. Photo by AFP

- Why didn’t you go to Brazil to look at the future team?

Because I could see many more games on TV than I could have done live, moving around vast Brazil. And so I saw all the matches except two.

- Why was autumn 2014 so difficult for the Orange?

Firstly, for teams that have successfully performed at the World Cup, the first time is never easy. The day after a big party, it is impossible to have the same degree of freshness at another.

- About the same thing happened with the German national team.

This is true. And secondly... The World Championship was successful in terms of results - that's indisputable. But there were doubts about the style of play. During the championship, the model changed in favor of a more defensive one, which is not typical for the Dutch style. They decided to do this for practical reasons, and given the result, this must be respected.

But now the opposite change had to be made - to a less defensively oriented football. And at first, this also could not but affect the result, since the players were already accustomed to something different.

- The football players, I heard, supported you at a difficult moment.

There was no doubt within the team that the path was correct.

- A sea of ​​criticism fell on you. Have you ever doubted yourself for a second?

No. I understood perfectly well that the players had to get used to me and my style, and I had to get used to them. In a club, when you host a team in the off-season, you have a month, but here it’s just a matter of days. As for criticism, I tried to hide myself from external influence. Normal criticism is one thing, and dirt is another. But even then you must not respond with words, but through your work turn people into your friends.

Guus Hiddink's start to the national team was, to put it mildly, not the most outstanding. Photo by AFP

- How did you feel when you read: they say, Gus is too old?

Felt younger than ever! In general, you need to ask my assistants and players about this - do they perceive me as an old person.

- Did the federation discuss early termination of your work?

Never.

- What do you experience when you find yourself on home arena PSV and look at the largest VIP box named after you?

I look and think: I know this guy! (laughs.) By the way, previously a more modest hall there was named after me, and a few years ago for some reason they decided to promote me (smiles). This is a great honor for me, because PSV has - big story. I don’t know who the initiator is. I certainly didn’t tell them, “You have to put my name there.”

- You are known for your ability to prepare teams for final tournaments. So the main thing for Holland is to qualify for Euro 2016, and everything will be fine there?

Yes! (he smiles.)

IT’S EARLY TO CALL PROMESA A PLAYER OF THE FIRST TEAM

- In the fall, you invited Spartak player Quincy Promes to the national team. How are your impressions?

I often invite 23 to 25 people to the national team, among whom are one or two talented young newcomers. In ten days of training they get good experience, and I can take a closer look at the player in such a serious company. That's why I attracted Promes.

He is not yet fully equipped to be a consistent player for the national team. But Quincy only recently played in the youth team, and few manage to immediately make the jump to the main team. This can only happen with the help of a high-quality game for the club, which is what I wish for Promes in Spartak.

True, there is one problem with football players playing in Russia. From December to March they do not play. This sets them back. But we continue to monitor him. My scouts keep track of all matches in European leagues, including RFPL. Every Monday we receive a full report on the performance of each candidate, including Promes.

Spartak player Quincy PROMES managed to attract attention from the RFPL. Photo by Alexander FEDOROV, "SE"

- Cherchesov hopes that you will invite Büttner. Is he in your plans?

The same thing concerns him as all “Russian” Dutch. We need them to play!

- Is it true that after Euro 2016 you will become the technical director of the federation?

No. I will be free! Let's see what happens during this time.

- Can you imagine Hiddink’s third coming to Russian football?

You must not forget about my age. I'm 68 (laughs). Nevertheless, I get great pleasure from the fact that I am still involved in football. I hope Holland will qualify for Euro 2016 and play well in the final tournament.

I don’t know what will happen after that. And if I return to Russia, too. It's obvious that most of the pages in my football book have already been turned. But it is very difficult to predict something, much less exclude something. I know one thing for sure: the time I spent in Russia was wonderful.

"SE" thanks the Faculty of "Management in game types Sports" RMA Business School for their assistance in organizing our columnist’s business trip to Holland.

Guus Hiddink is an outstanding Dutch coach who has experience working in many strong clubs in Europe and several national teams, including...

Guus Hiddink: biography, career, personal life

From Masterweb

16.04.2018 22:01

Guus Hiddink is an outstanding Dutch coach who has experience working in many strong European clubs and several national teams, including the Russian national team. He stands out from other coaches with his extraordinary tactical setups, with an emphasis on the individual skill of each player.

Biography

Guus Hiddink was born on November 8, 1946 in the Netherlands, in the city of Varseveld. He grew up in a large family of teachers. As a child, his main hobby was football. G. Hiddink devoted everything he had to his favorite sport free time, while still managing to help their parents.

Guus Hiddink began his playing career in early age in the city club "Varseveld", where he was assigned to the position of midfielder. After graduating from school, he was enrolled at the Central Institute of Sports Coaches in Overveen, where he was one of the best students and graduated with honors in 1966.

Professional career

After graduation, Guus Hiddink signed a contract with football club"De Graafschap" from Doetinchem, while also coaching a team for children with developmental delays. He remained a children's mentor until 1984, combining this work with his professional activities as a football player.

In 1969, the footballer helped De Graafschap reach the first division of the Dutch championship, after which he moved to the Washington Diplomats from the North American football league. Later, Guus Hiddink signed an agreement with the San Jose Earthquakes, and some time later he played for the NEK club from Nijmingham. In 1981, Hus was accepted back to De Graafschap with honors, where he ended his football career a few years later. Guus Hiddink has 500 matches and 80 goals as a player over 15 years of work.

Coaching work

Since 1981, after returning to De Graafschap, Guus Hiddink has been assistant coach. He moved to the same position in 1984 at PSV, where in 1987 he was promoted to head coach. Under him, the most titled Dutch club won the Dutch championship three times and the Dutch Cup three times, and also took possession of the European Champions Cup in 1988 (later reformed into the UEFA Champions League). In 1990, Hus signed an agreement with Turkish club Fenerbahce, and the next year he was already the head coach of the Spanish team Valencia.

In 1995, he received an invitation to lead the Dutch national team. In 1998, the World Cup was held in France, at which the Dutch team, in a difficult fight, took fourth place, losing to Croatia in the match for third place.

After the World Cup, Guus Hiddink took charge of Real Madrid, with whom he soon won the Intercontinental Cup. But due to disagreements with the club’s management, in 2000 he had to leave first for Real Betis, and six months later for the South Korean national team. What seemed to all skeptics to be a regression, in fact turned out to be the most the right decision for the coach. In 2002, at the World Cup held in South Korea, under the mentorship of Guus Hiddink, the national team came in fourth place, which is still the highest football achievement of this country.

After this success, the mentor returned to work at PSV, where in 4 years he helped the club win three more national championships, one Dutch Cup and one Dutch Super Cup each.

In 2005, Hus was invited to join the Australian team, which he led to the round of 16 at the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany, where they lost to eventual winners Italy late in the match due to a controversial penalty.

At the personal request of Roman Abramovich, he was appointed head coach of the Russian national football team in 2006. The mentor's salary was about 7 million euros. Together with the Russian national team, Guus Hiddink created a sensation at Euro 2008. In a difficult group, Russia entered the playoffs from second place, which brought the team to one of the tournament favorites - the Netherlands - in the quarterfinals. But Guus Hiddink found the necessary tactical arrangement, and his team won with a score of 3:1. This caused rejoicing throughout the country. Despite the fact that Spain defeated Russia in the semifinals, the national team led by Hus shared third place with Turkey. But since the coach failed to lead the national team to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, the coach announced the end of his work with the team.

After that, he signed a contract with Chelsea, with whom he won the FA Cup in 2009. G. Hiddink left his post after the defeat in the semi-finals of the Champions League from Barcelona.

In 2010, the Turkish Football Federation agreed with Guus Hiddink to work with their national team. He was faced with the task of qualifying for Euro 2012, but the team did not win the play-offs with Croatia and missed out on this tournament. Guus Hiddink announced his retirement immediately after the absence.

Then he signed a contract with Anzhi, which under his leadership took third place in the Russian Championship.

After this, Guus Hiddink's career began to decline. First, he was unable to lead the Dutch national team to Euro 2016, then he failed the season at Chelsea, the team took only tenth place in the English Championship.

Life after coaching career

Now Guus Hiddink lives and works in the USA. He is a sports analyst for Fox Sports USA.

He is dating a Dutch citizen, Elisabeth Pinas, who is several decades younger than him.

Kievyan Street, 16 0016 Armenia, Yerevan +374 11 233 255

But it is no less interesting to consider her in comparison with two other foreign coaches. Moreover, the backbone of this team, formed Guus Hiddink, lasted almost all eight years - from the Euro 2008 selection to the Euro 2016 qualification.

GUS HIDDINK

Russian national team under Guus Hiddink: 22 wins, 7 draws, 10 losses. The goal difference is 66-39.
In official matches: 18 wins, 4 draws, 7 losses. Goal difference: 46-23.
Best match: Russia – Netherlands – 3:1 (Euro 2008).
Worst match: Slovenia – Russia – 1:0 (2010 World Cup qualifying playoffs).

The first foreigner at the head of the Russian team remains the most successful so far. Guus Hiddink we owe the best achievement - bronze medals Euro 2008. In addition, he has the highest winning percentage - 56. And in official matches it is even higher - 62%. The Dutchman was at the helm of the national team for two qualifying rounds, having held 39 meetings with the team - only Oleg Romantsev, who led the national team twice, from 1994 to 1996 and from 1998 to 2002. Hiddink is also the most successful coach of the national team in final tournaments world and European forums. He has 3 victories to his name – more than Romantsev.

Hiddink suffered his first defeat at the head of the Russian national team more than a year after his appointment. And in general, the time of his leadership was the most stable. The lion's share of defeats came in those matches where our team was not objectively the favorite. Twice they lost heavily to the Spaniards at the same triumphant Euro, twice they failed to cope with Germany in the qualification for the South African World Cup, and lost to the British at Wembley. It was difficult to blame Hiddink for all these defeats. In official matches, the team did not win as a favorite only twice. First, Israel qualified for Euro 2008, which almost ruined all efforts - thanks to the Croats for helping us out. The second fiasco was also the last, since there was no one to save. Losing to Slovenia in return match playoff qualifying for the 2010 World Cup, said goodbye to the national team.

DICK LAWYER

Russian national team under Dick Advocaat: 12 wins, 8 draws, 4 losses. The goal difference is 32-13.
In official matches: 8 wins, 3 draws, 2 losses.
Best match: Czech Republic – Russia – 1:4 (Euro 2012).
Worst match: Greece – Russia – 1:0 (Euro 2012).

Operating period Dick Advocaat turned out to be quite short. He knew Russian football very well, the players of the national team and did not bother himself much with experiments, betting on approximately the same composition and trying to squeeze the maximum out of it. In the Euro 2012 qualifying, this was generally successful. Although the group - thanks to Hiddink, who significantly increased the team's rating - was passable. There was no longer any England or Germany here - only Ireland, Armenia and Slovakia. At the last one we stumbled, why Roman Shirokov later he called it a “collective farm”. However, that only defeat during the cycle remained the only one, so leaving the group with 70% victories was not difficult.

Dick Advocaat was not particularly successful in friendly matches, in which the national team looked amorphous. The statistics in them were worse than in the official ones - 4 wins with 5 draws and 2 defeats. However, on the eve of Euro 2012, the national team defeated Italy in sparring, impressing everyone. So there was an exception to this rule too. As under Hiddink, the team seemed to take “its” points regularly. But the same two misfires against two not very strong opponents ultimately cost Advocaat his place. And again, the first time it worked out, the home defeat from the Slovaks did not become critical. But when at the Euro the team weakly lost to the Greeks in the decisive match, nothing could save Dick. Although with his 62% wins in official matches, he is equal to Hiddink and is significantly ahead of Capello.

FABIO CAPELLO

Russian national team with: 15 wins, 10 draws, 4 losses. The goal difference is 49-19.
In official matches: 8 wins, 5 draws, 4 losses. The goal difference is 28-11.
Best match: Russia – Portugal – 1:0 (Euro 2012 qualification).
Worst match: Algeria – Russia – 1:1 (2014 World Cup).

If we take the statistics of official meetings only, then 8 wins, 5 draws and 4 defeats are a very modest result for a team claiming first place in the qualifying group and access to the playoffs of the world and European forums. The winning percentage is only 47, that is, less than half. Under Advocaat and Hiddink there was a noticeable increase, and most importantly, defeats occurred less frequently.

The Italian started with good health, but then a continuous regression began, which will not be replaced by an upswing. Having shown a 100 percent result at the start of the qualifying round in 2012, the team Capello won half of the matches in 2013 and only one (!) game out of seven in 2014. So the September victory over Luxembourg remains the only one in the last 8 official games. Against the backdrop of the stability of Hiddink and Advocaat, Capello's team is clearly losing. The Dutch lost a couple of key matches to inferior opponents and did not solve the maximum problem. In the last cycle, Don Fabio seemed to repeat their path - still the same standard two misfires, non-critical with Northern Ireland and tragic at the World Championships. This time they lost to an equal opponent, Belgium, but although they did not lose to the Algerians and Koreans, they did not get the decisive points. However, Capello began his new qualifications rather in the style of his foreign predecessors. Then we had a good tradition of failing at the beginning of the selection process, then changing the coach ( Byshovets, Gazzaev, Yartsev). . But a draw with Moldova and a defeat against Austria (and this is only after the first 4 rounds of qualification) already seriously violate the schedule to which we are accustomed with foreign coaches.

Hiddink Gus. Honored Trainer of Russia.

A student of the amateur club “Varsseveld” Varsseveld, Holland.

Clubs: De Graafschap Doetinchem, Holland (1967 - 1970, 1971 - 1977, 1981 - 1982), PSV Eindhoven Eindhoven, Holland (1970 - 1971), NEC Nijmegen, Holland (1977 - 1978, 1979 - 1980, 1 ), "Washington Diplomats", USA (1978), "San Jose Earthquakes", USA (1980).

Assistant head coach of the clubs "De Graafsap" Doetinchem, Holland (1981 - 1983), PSV "Eindhoven" Eindhoven, Holland (1983 - 1987).

Head coach of the clubs PSV Eindhoven, Holland (1987 - 1990, 2000 - 2006), Fenerbahce Istanbul, Turkey (1990 - 1991), Valencia Valencia, Spain (1991 - 1994), Real Madrid, Spain ( 1998 - 1999), Betis Seville, Spain (1999 - 2000), Chelsea London, England (2009), Anzhi Makhachkala (2012 - 2013).

Head coach of the national teams of Holland (1995 - 1998, 2014 - ...), South Korea (2000 - 2002), Australia (2005 - 2006), Russia (2006 - 2010), Turkey (2010 - 2011).

Achievements as a coach:

Dutch Champion1986/87, 1987/88, 1988/89, 2002/03, 2004/05, 2005/06;

Winner of the Dutch Cup1987/88, 1988/89, 1989/90, 2004/05;

Winner of the Dutch Super Cup2003;

Winner of the European Cup1988;

Winner of the Intercontinental Cup1998;

FA Cup Winner2009;

Fourth place at the 1998 World Championships (Holland team), 2002 (South Korean team), semi-finalist of the 2008 European Championship (Russian team).

YOUR OWN GUS!

The Russian national team will be led by one of the most famous, respected and successful coaches of modern football. Few specialists can be put on a par with him. Hiddink brought each of his teams to a new, better level. How did he manage to do this and how did he achieve such respect among coaches, journalists, fans, and players?

ABOUT TRAVELERS

“We Dutch live in a very small country. But we have great ideas. Hence our desire to travel and to spread ideas around the world. We don’t want to be a gray mouse.” This is how a journalist from the Dutch newspaper “De Telegraf” explained the triumph of the Dutch coaching school: at the World Championships in Germany, the Netherlands will be represented by four coaches at once: Marco Van Basten (Netherlands team), Dick Advocaat (South Korean team), Leo Beenhakker (Trinidad and Tobago team) and Guus Hiddink (Australian national team).

But there are about a hundred more Dutch people scattered around the world, coaching teams of different statuses, with different budgets, with players of different nationalities and mentalities...

The most famous of them: Louis Van Gaal, who excited the whole world first with Ajax, then with Barcelona; Frank Rijkaard, who has created an excellent team that has every chance this season of both winning the championship in Spain and becoming the best in Europe; Ronald Koeman, who went through the most difficult group in the Champions League with Benfica and reached the quarter-finals with them, are just the most famous of the Dutch foreign coaches. But none of them has achieved (at least so far) such respect as Hiddink.

How did he achieve it? In different ways.

HOW TO GO TO FOOTBALL WITH MARADONA

Hiddink knows how to relieve stress from players like no one else. When the Australian team arrived in Uruguay for the first match, there was incredible excitement in both countries.

In Uruguay the press simply attacked the Australians. Upon arrival, Hiddink said: “I am very happy to bring my team to the country that was the first to win the World Cup.” This simple phrase disarmed the Uruguayan press, and the tension subsided.

During the Australians' training camp in Buenos Aires, Hiddink received a call from Diego Maradona to wish him luck and invite him to a Copa Libertadores match that evening. Gus replied that he would be happy to do so, but he had to be with the team.

Hiddink did not achieve much success in his playing career, starting his career at the amateur Varseveld and continuing it at the professional De Graafschap. But he managed to become the most popular football player of this club, receiving the nickname Superbur. His departure to PSV immediately provoked a reaction from the fans, who organized a fundraising event for the return of their favorite player. Hiddink returned and led the team to the Dutch top division.

Already in the evening Hiddink was sitting at the match, but... with the whole team in in full force! Maradona invited the entire Australian team there. This could not but affect the attitude of the players towards Gus.

LIBERAL

Hiddink knows how to set up a team for decisive games. After the first play-off match in Uruguay, where the Australians lost 0:1, the team flew home on Monday morning. There were two days left before the decisive match.

“You are all free until Tuesday afternoon,” Hiddink announced.

Freedom and relaxation ultimately helped the players get ready for the meeting. Australia won 1-0 in regulation time and were more confident in the penalty shootout.

The most difficult thing before the return match with Uruguay was to get in the best possible mood, recalls Hiddink. - Sometimes football players get too involved in the fight on the field - so much so that they forget their task. This shouldn't happen. This is the whole point - to find a certain balance so that the player gives his all on the field and does not forget to do what the coach told him.

The surprising thing is that Hiddink very quickly gains respect from the players. “It felt like Gus was the link between the team and success,” says Australia captain Mark Viduka, who has never played at a World Cup. “He became exactly the leader we needed.” He is a tactical genius. Everything he does has a purpose. And the players feel very comfortable with that.”

But Hiddink led the Australian national team while in Eindhoven, where at the same time he managed to coach PSV...

FOLLOWER OF MICHELS

Guus Hiddink - coach

“All Dutch coaches are, in one way or another, followers of the great Rinus Michels (head coach of the Dutch national team and Ajax in the 70s). It is from him that they take most of their ideas, says Johan Cruyff. - Michels never taught me how to control the ball. But he knew how to make the players play team football.”

But current Tottenham head coach Martin Jol recalls Michels: “He is both a friend and a boss for us. When Rinus talked to the players at the hotel, he looked like a typical Dutchman - he drank beer with us, shouted songs. Everyone loved him."

The British newspaper “Guardian” introduces the Dutch coaching school: “Their model is training in professional ethics and team game, as well as a love of attacking football. This is what is most suitable for those countries where the football structure is imperfect.”

BUILDER

After the 2004 European Championship, PSV lost its entire attacking line. Matej Kezman and Arjen Robben were sold to Chelsea, Dennis Rommedahl went to Charlton. It seemed that the team had no prospects for the coming season. However, PSV won the national championship and reached the semi-finals of the Champions League, where Milan narrowly missed out.

Our budget is the smallest of all the teams that reached the 1/8 finals of the Champions League,” Hiddink said then. - So defeat in the semi-finals cannot be called a failure.

After the super-successful 2004/05 season, PSV lost almost its entire midfield: van Bommel went to Barcelona, ​​Vogel to Milan, and Park Ji-sung to Manchester United. And again PSV solves its problems brilliantly. The team's result is reaching the quarterfinals of the Champions League and the championship in Holland!

This shows that Hiddink knows how to build a team almost from scratch and in a short time.

HOW TO TEACH KOREANS TO PLAY FOOTBALL?

The South Korean team made a splash at the 2002 World Championships. Then there was a lot of talk about the fact that the Koreans, with the blessing of FIFA, were helped by the referees, that the Portuguese, Italians and Spaniards humiliated by this team had too many problems... But no one questioned Guus Hiddink’s role in the “Korean miracle”.

We've always had good players, said national team veteran Hong Myung Bo. “But we didn’t know how to win.” Now we do everything differently - first of all, we approach the game differently.

At first it was like this: I enter the locker room after a lost match and look at the guys. They sit with an indifferent expression on their faces. I come in after the victory - the same picture. “No difference,” recalls Hiddink. - I thought I had the wrong door. I wanted them to be frustrated, angry after losing and happy after winning. Therefore, after successful matches, I made it a custom to organize a celebration - with champagne, beer, a big cake...

Hiddink made a whole revolution in the consciousness of Koreans. First of all, he broke the stereotype that the main task of the national team is just to perform better than Japan.

I had to take them all over the world. Previously, they prepared for the World Cup through games against Malaysia and Singapore and won by three or four goals. They are used to performing in their small stadiums in front of an audience of two thousand. I showed them how football is played all over the world.

Hiddink's main problem was to force the Koreans to act tough - after all, in martial arts they were inferior to almost everyone:

Sometimes I would approach them during training and provoke them in some way. And no one answered. Five minutes later I go up to them again and say: do you like that I provoke you? If I provoke you, then you should answer me in the same way. So I taught them to play as hard as European teams do.

PLAYS BY ITS OWN RULES

All this does not mean at all that with Hiddink’s arrival in the Russian national team we will definitely be successful. But it is foolish to deny that a simple dialogue with such a person will be useful both for our players and coaches, and for our football leaders.

Now the Russian team will live by Hiddink’s rules. He is not one who obeys others:

I come to the team to win. I may give in, but I will do it my way. I don't come to follow anyone's instructions.

"IT'S ALL GRANDPA'S FAULT!"

On two December evenings, Guus Hiddink and I sat at a cafe table on the 10th floor of the Moscow Ararat-Hyatt hotel. Outside the window, nothing spoke of the upcoming holidays - above-zero temperatures, not even snowflakes. The Dutchman shrugged his shoulders in surprise: “When we were flying to Moscow now, Elizabeth was hoping to see huge snowdrifts. Where are they?”

We weren’t talking about football, about which over the past year, it seems, everything has already been said and discussed. The fuss of goals and offsides was left behind, and I wanted to talk to the Dutchman about something completely different. Hiddink - he opened our team's eyes not only and not so much on how to play football. How to approach life correctly and believe in your star - that’s what he taught both players and fans. That is, the whole country. Euro 2008 bronze became a lesson for everyone who is convinced that he has a “ceiling” beyond which he cannot jump. The Russian national team, which no one believed in less than a year ago, has proven the opposite. And, I have no doubt, after this thousands of people said to themselves: “But we, too, can do what we never dreamed of.”

So, on the eve of the New Year holidays, I decided to talk to Hiddink, as they say, about life. I admit, I was expecting a lot from this conversation - but best coach Russia 2008 exceeded even these expectations.

CURIOSITY INVOLVED BY GRANDFATHER

In Western Europe, Christmas is celebrated on a much larger scale than New Year, while in Russia it is the other way around. What is more important for you and your family?

Christmas and New Year for me they are inseparable from each other. This is the time for my favorite leisurely conversations with family and friends, summing up the results of the year, and thinking about what remains to be done. Sport highest achievements is not always useful - both physically and mentally. When you achieve your goals, you stop noticing the world around you and become selfish. Therefore, it is good when there are people who sometimes “wake you up”. Before the New Year there is a happy opportunity to see these people more often and hear them better.

Now, like all recent years, will you go to Africa again for the New Year?

Yes, this time to Uganda and Tanzania. However, now - not only with Elizabeth, but also with my two younger brothers Karel and Arnold, as well as their wives. I've traveled a lot around the world, and we thought it would be cool to show the brothers and their families something completely different. They will leave Europe for the first time in their lives, and you should see how excited they are for this trip. I get great pleasure from watching them anticipate it. How they call, worried: “What vaccinations should we get, what things should we take with us?” It’s not surprising: they almost never traveled more than 5 to 10 hours from home by car. In the summer, however, we flew to Austria for the European Championship, visited our team - and became its fans. After which I said: “Now let’s move on.”

Why were the two younger brothers invited? In total you have five of them.

I have already invited others to other places - in particular, to Korea. So many people on one such trip at once is still a bit much.

You are always drawn to the exotic. Go on vacation to wild Africa, and work in Korea, Australia, and Russia, which are unusual for Western Europeans. Where does this travel spirit come from in you?

Indeed, I love being in new situations and places. So that people from traditionally leading football countries they asked: “Why did you go there? It’s impossible to achieve anything there!” On the contrary, it motivates me. For me, the incentive is curiosity. To go to an unfamiliar region, to discover a new culture, to see how people live and work, to make possible what is considered impossible... I prefer to do and regret it than not to do and regret it. At the same time, I have never been disappointed that I went somewhere. Although difficulties arise, you experience resistance. But overcoming it is another thing I love.

And where did all this come from... As a child, I lived in a small place and always wanted to see and find out something else. Seeing this, my grandfather said: “Don’t go to school tomorrow. You and I will go somewhere. Hunt - or we’ll come up with something else.” I was looking forward to this with great impatience; for me, such walks with my grandfather were the discovery of a whole world. My current trips to different countries- this is essentially the same thing, only on a much larger scale.

Did your parents know about your plans with your grandfather?

The father knew, but did not say or do anything to neutralize them. But he was the director of the school where I studied.

TWO OVER A DOZEN GRANDFATHERS

Have you ever acted as Site-Claus?

No. In the Netherlands, in addition to Christmas, there is also a holiday on December 5 - also with the participation of Santa Claus, only a little different, typically Dutch. It's more likely children's party, whereas a typical Christmas is more adult. But he was never one or the other Santa Claus.

Actually, I only dressed up once. Holland hosts an annual carnival. One day my friends persuaded me to take part in it, and I put on the mask of a completely bald man like Fantômas. Nowadays many young people wear this “hairstyle”, but that was a long time ago. In my home area, I knew everyone and everyone. I sat in a cafe, walked around the streets, no one recognized me, and I myself was silent, like a fish, because otherwise they would have figured me out. It was very funny how my good friends in the cafe asked each other: “Who is this? Who is this?” They never “split”. This was my only experience of transformation, and I really enjoyed it.

This year, without any reincarnation, you became Santa Claus for all of Russia. Because no one dreamed of third place at Euro.

This is true. Even now it seems like a dream, even though it happened six months ago. But to perceive yourself as Father Frost or Santa Claus is too great an honor. I was simply trying to create conditions within and around the team that would help them show their best qualities. But the coach is always dependent, albeit not completely, on the players and other members of the team. We can only achieve something together. Therefore, if you call me Santa Claus, then I will correct you: there were many Santa Clauses on the team. More than two dozen.

That’s why, when Vitaly Mutko, at a farewell dinner in Austria, intended to present you with a medal first, did you say: “First, the captain and other players”?

Where, by the way, does Father Frost Hiddink keep it?

In our new house in Amsterdam, which we built for a year and a half and recently completed.

I WRITTEN THE WORD "Perhaps" IN MY DIARY

You have already spoken about the role of the players. In every interview, you also emphasize the great importance of your assistants Alexander Borodyuk and Igor Korneev for the team. What would you wish for them in 2009?

I don’t just hope, but I am confident that they will continue to bring great benefits to the team. I’ve been working with them for more than two years now, and we’re developing each other. I have always tried to learn from people living in the country where I currently work. They tell me stories from their football career and everyday life, and I remember these stories and take them into account in my activities. Plus, they develop themselves - and I am convinced they will not stop on this path.

When I came here and first saw Alex (Borodyuk - I.R.), he, to be honest, was somewhat pessimistic. “No, Gus, it’s impossible, it won’t work here,” he said more than once. And often counted on... how does this Russian word sound... Avosh?

What?

Wait, I wrote it down in my diary.

Here Hiddink, flipping through several pages of the diary (he began the habit of keeping a diary back in the 80s, from the beginning of his coaching career), showed one of them to me. There it was written large in Cyrillic - “Perhaps”!

I admit, I was speechless for a few seconds. And Gus began to explain to Elizabeth, who periodically joined our conversation, the essence of this untranslatable word:

Imagine: you are walking along the runway of an airfield and you see an airplane. He is old, one of his wings hangs at a different angle than the other. The pilot is slightly drunk, during takeoff everything shakes and hums, as if the plane was a hundred years old. It’s then that the passengers sigh with a heavy sigh and say: “Maybe we’ll make it.”

Your correspondent asked Hiddink:

Why do you need to write down such words?

I must know them. This is important to me, because any tradition, any word of the country where you find yourself can play some role in your work. Because such words say something about the spirit of people.

By the way, Alex is completely different now. He has his own opinion on every issue, fights for it, thinks, and is seething with energy. And I really like it.

I also like the fact that Igor (Korneev - I.R.’s note) has finally turned from a player into a coach in recent years. When we started working, he still thought in many ways like a football player, but he wanted to grow and develop. They are wise people. From Sasha I heard many stories and anecdotes about Russian life. What I really like about Russia is that people willingly talk about themselves, their habits and don’t miss an opportunity to laugh at themselves. This is very good quality.

AFTER SEEING A BLACK CAT, I WILL NOT CHANGE THE PATH

Christmas is a religious holiday, New Year is a secular one. Can you call yourself a believer?

No. I believe in the responsibility and strength of man.

So you don’t perceive Christmas as a religious holiday?

Were you originally non-religious or did that come over the years?

Initially. Our family has always respected people’s right to beliefs, but did not accept their forced, artificial implantation into the lives of other people. The institution of the church has done a lot, both positive and negative. In my opinion, to be a good person and do good, it is not at all necessary to be religious.

Do you go to church at least occasionally?

When I worked in Spain, we sometimes arrived for away matches two days before the game. And in the morning, when I had a couple of free hours, I went to churches in Zaragoza, Bilbao, Seville and other cities and admired them as architectural masterpieces. I haven’t been to any churches in Russia yet, but outwardly some of them are stunningly beautiful.

Do you believe in omens?

No. Many players are superstitious; I know some of them don’t even wash their underwear after winnings. And if the winning streak lasts for many weeks, then it’s not easy for his wife (laughs). But if you, a coach, think in the same way, then you become vulnerable because you believe not in yourself and your team, but in something extraneous.

If a black cat crosses the road in front of you or your car before the game...

I love it!

That is, you won’t turn around and choose another road?

No way!

"IF YOU DEFEAT ITALY, YOU WILL NOT SERVE IN THE ARMY!"

In Korea, you are exposed to many amazing traditions. Can you tell us about this?

There's almost military discipline. To such an extent that it is not the Koreans who control time, but time that controls them. One day our morning training took a long time. You can work with Koreans for two or three hours, they won’t say a word, won’t complain, because for them everything the coach says is law. And so the class ends at 12.15, and my local assistants run up to me in horror. "What's happened?" - I ask. “So, after all, we have lunch in fifteen minutes, and the players still need a shower” - “So what? Let’s move lunch to one o’clock in the afternoon” - “But that’s also not possible! It’s written in the schedule - 12.30!” They were in a real panic, and I had to make a lot of efforts to bring them out of this state.

And high management, apparently, categorically forbade those same assistants to smoke in my presence. At first, when they saw me, they frantically tried to hide cigarettes and lighters. I told them: “Smoke as much as you want!” They didn’t believe it for a long time, they were afraid that I was luring them into a trap, so that I could later bring them to light and severely punish them (laughs).

At this moment, Igor Korneev, who participated in part of the conversation, asked: “Gus, tell us how you freed the players of the Korean national team from the army!”

All Korean citizens, including football players, must undergo, it seems, three years of military service,” Hiddink immediately began. - There are no exceptions. Players serve on a general basis - which means their football careers are ruined. At 20 years old, spending three years without football is a disaster.

Soon after the 2002 World Cup, elections were scheduled to take place in Korea. And after the first victory over Poland, politicians began to circle around the team, wanting to be in the rays of glory. And when we beat the Portuguese, the real excitement began. I can’t say that this helped the team very much, but at the home World Championship it was impossible to completely shut it down. And then I decided to try to turn this to our advantage. Both for the whole team and for each player.

How?

When we left the group, I turned to the politicians: “Do you want to benefit the team? Then propose to the top leaders of the country: if we defeat Italy, let all 23 players of the national team be forever exempt from military service!”

I was almost sure that nothing would come of this venture. But the day before the match, right during training, my cell phone rang. Actually, I never pick up the phone while I’m working, but then something made me answer, albeit with the intention of ending the conversation after the first sentences. And this is what I heard: “This is the secretary of the president of the country. You can tell the players: if the team beats the Italians, then none of them will serve in the army.” I stopped the training and conveyed these words to the players.

How did they react?

You should have seen their faces! And hear some kind of friendly groan that they made at that second! Everyone gathered in a circle, hugged each other's shoulders and talked about something for several minutes. I stood about ten meters from the players. And I felt that for this purpose they were ready to move mountains. The next day Italy was beaten.

Did the authorities fulfill their promise?

How did you even come up with this idea?

I was concerned about the players' future careers. These are real people! And I thought: “You can play great at the World Cup, and then everything will end for them. Almost an entire generation of football players will come to naught, and with it the development of football in the country.” You can't think only about the result. Today you can win or lose, but you must see far ahead, and then the results will definitely come.

But how did you know about all these nuances with the army?

As before our trip to Moscow, Elizabeth and I read a lot about the country we were going to.

At this moment, Korneev again joined the conversation: “Can you imagine, even after arriving in Russia, Gus knew who Pavlik Morozov was!”

After everything I heard, I was no longer surprised by this. And Hiddink asked:

For the Russian national team at Euro, did you want to find the same motivation as the Koreans?

No, because it was an exceptional situation. Motivation must be present within a person, whereas this one came from outside. Material things - cash bonuses, a car, a house - are external motivation and can push some people at some stage. But it won't last long. The real motivation is internal: a football player, like a representative of any other profession, must love what he does. A great athlete and creator is the one who does everything from the heart, and not from thoughts about a bonus. We must admit that we still have to work on this (here Hiddink clearly means the Russian national team. - Note by I.R.).

Although a lot depends on the society in which a person plays football. I remember one player from Fenerbahce, where I once worked. He was an ordinary football player, and for his level he had a very good salary. One day he came to me and asked: “Could you ask the board of directors to raise my salary?” I was dumbfounded: “But it’s already tall for you, you should be happy with it!” And I heard: “Mr. Hiddink, you understand, this is not only for me. Having become a professional football player, I am obliged to feed another 30 - 40 people who are around. Do you know how many relatives I have who live very poorly!” I also understand this motivation well.

As far as I know, you are very familiar with perhaps the most “bad guy” in the history of football - Diego Maradona.

I was in Buenos Aires, the Australian team and I were preparing for the 2006 World Cup play-off match with Uruguay. And he worked in the Boca Juniors system. A friend from Argentina, who helped me organize a gathering there, and I were sitting in a hotel, and suddenly he held out his mobile phone: “Someone wants to talk to you.” I thought it was a journalist calling, since there was a lot of press around the team at the time, and I hung up the phone. But my friend insisted, and I heard in Spanish: “Mister! Mister! It’s Diego!” There are many different Diegos in the world, and at first I thought that someone was fooling me. But the friend nodded: this is the real Maradona. We talked, he said that he really respects my work.

Since when?

Don't know. The Dutch national team, under my leadership, played at the 1998 World Cup with Argentina, that match turned out great and Diego probably liked it. He probably also saw Korea. And then he invited me to the Boca Juniors - River Plate match. There are many derbies in the world - Milan - Inter, Real Madrid - Atletico, CSKA - Spartak. But the number one derby is Boca versus River. Half a day before the start of the game, the stadium is already full. The roar is so loud that you can go crazy!

Maradona has a small open box at the Boca stadium, where he invited me. We talked very well and were under the gun of many cameras every second. We stay in touch now, even if not very often. But I know for sure: if I get ready to go to Argentina, I will be received there with all the warmth.

How do you feel about the fact that the enfant terrible of world football has become the head coach of the Argentina national team?

Diego is a guy from the street who has been through both good and bad. But he always found the strength to return. Because he is a fighter. I know the life circumstances in countries where there is poverty all around, and football is everything. And I have great sympathy for people who, having gone through very difficult times, become an example for millions of other people who are now in very bad times. They look and think: what did this man go through - and got out of it! Fight, and you will succeed too!

Would you like to organize friendly match Russia - Argentina?

I would be very happy about this. This was already discussed some time ago, but the date that was free for us was already taken by the Argentines. Of course, it would be great if a team led by Maradona and with Messi in the lineup played against us.

I DON'T DRINK, I JUST SIP

In Russia, did any traditions strike you as much as the Korean ones?

Compared to Korea, Russian society does not have strict principles that would be very different from Western European ones. I never experienced the shock when I exclaimed: “Lord, how can I get used to this!” But they really like to give gifts here. They hand me bottles of some unusual drinks, treat me to signature food... The hospitality of Russian people has amazed me more than once. There is another typical feature - when you are at a table in a company, everyone wants to make not just a toast, but a small speech. Moreover, he barely had time to finish one, and everyone drank, when another begins. Toasts are made very often, and you need to tell yourself: “Be careful!”

Have you ever drunk a lot of vodka?

Never. Because I don't drink, I just sip. Before Russia, I had never tried vodka at all, and in principle I am not a fan of alcohol. Sometimes I'll drink a glass of red wine and that's enough. And when I’m in company, I don’t feel obligated to drink like everyone else. It is an individual right to say no. I don’t want to feel sick the next morning or have anyone else feel that way because of me.

You have been given different gifts in your life. For example, a 20-meter Hyundai limousine.

Well, 20 meters is an exaggeration. But long, long, with a TV, a bar - whatever you want! I received this present after the 2002 World Cup. In Japan and Korea, heads of large companies drive such cars. But that's not my style.

Refused?

No, smart people explained that in Asia you can’t say “no” to those who give such gifts. This is an insult to them, no matter how you explain the refusal. As a result, this limousine was transported by sea from Ulsan, a city in southern Korea, to Rotterdam Harbor. And already there I asked the national Hyundai dealer in Holland if it was possible to exchange this limousine for a jeep of the same brand. Which is what was done.

When you played in the US in the 70s and went from Washington to San Jose, a similar limousine was sent to pick you up at the California airport. They say your reaction to this was: “In Holland they would think I was a pimp.”

- (Laughs.) In those days, a huge car in Holland meant exactly that. There were four-cylinder cars in use there. In America, on the contrary, there was a cult of huge cars, with 12 cylinders. If you find yourself in Cuba now, you will be convinced of this: many people there still drive hefty American cars from the 50s and 60s with proudly upturned “noses” on which some bird or animal is depicted. I had a car like this in California. San Francisco is a hilly city, and when I climbed the next hill, I could not see anything ahead. The hood was blocked! Because of this, you could get into an accident. But I liked it because it was an unusual sensation.

You also brought white boots from the USA - the first in Holland.

For which, while playing in NEK, he was subjected to merciless criticism after unsuccessful matches. Everyone was criticized only for the game, but I was also reminded of the white boots. But I didn’t care, because these boots were like gloves - they fit the foot so perfectly. In the USA I just fell in love with them.

Were they also a symbol of inner freedom for you?

No, everything is simpler. When I played for the Washington Diplomats, the team played in all white - T-shirts, shorts, socks and cleats. Just imagine how beautiful this is! So I won’t throw around beautiful slogans and admit: for me it was not a symbol of freedom, but simply part of a very beautiful shape. By the way, I must keep them somewhere; I didn’t throw them away or give them to anyone.

Survived in Turkey, Spain, Korea, USA... What distinguishes Russia from all these countries?

In Russia, they treat their culture with extreme care and cherish it. I know that some Russians criticize themselves for losing some values. It is believed that because of computers and the Internet, the new generation, say, does not want to play the piano, violin, or other musical instruments. And yet we have seen more than once: in many families, children are involved in something besides school - either music, or something else in the field of art, or sports. We were pleasantly surprised that parents do so much for the cultural and sports education of their children.

And one more thing in Russia seemed to me similar to Spain. Many musicians, politicians and people from other fields are passionate about football. In the Pyrenees, no matter who you ask, everyone supports one team or another. Something similar here. No wonder when we beat Holland there was a celebration throughout the country, from Moscow to Vladivostok. Then I looked documentary about that night, it was something amazing. I felt the significance of the victory when the whole team met with President Medvedev.

What exactly did you feel?

At first I thought that the meeting would be limited to a formal 20 minutes with telephoto lenses and camera flashes. But then the press was asked to leave - and the informal part began. We took off our jackets and talked. What I liked was the sense of equality that came from the president. Everyone understood what rank they were talking to, but he himself did not make it clear that he was above us. The players accepted these rules of the game without ties and jackets, relaxed, and everything went on for quite a long time.

IT WAS TOO IMPATIENT FOR THE CLARINET

Let's return to the music lessons that you talked about in relation to Russian children. Your brother Hans is a jazz musician. Were you taught to play musical instruments as a child?

Yes, on the initiative of my parents I learned to play the clarinet. But I didn't have enough patience. WITH soccer ball it was much more interesting! Here, by the way, there is also an instructive moment. You need to make sure that learning music is a game for your child! Don’t give harsh instructions, don’t force them to learn tedious theory, but come up with a method so that the child will love this instrument!

Here's a direct analogy with children's football. Children need to be offered exercises through which they discover something for themselves. Children should not force anything too much, as this will alienate them. If you are a stupid instructor, then you force him to cram - A, B, C. If you are a smart teacher, the child begins to love what you teach. And this is the most important thing. And in adult football, in my opinion, the game should always remain a game. The one that these guys once loved not as hard work.

They say you like to sing?

Yes, and I have a karaoke system. The first time I was introduced to this thing was in Korea, and after our success at the World Championships, the whole team sang like birds. Not good birds- bad, voiceless - but they sang. I can't say I'm singing. I love to sing - it will be truer.

I heard that your favorite song is “My Way” by Frank Sinatra.

It's too simple, don't you think?

Before the match with Finland, you met with the famous pianist Denis Matsuev...

Yes, he arrived at the hotel, we had a cup of coffee. And then we organized everything so that he could be at the stadium with photographers and stand behind the goal. I said: “Matsu (as Hiddink called the famous pianist in his style - Approx. I.R.), you will like it!” I asked him: “Tell me after the match what you saw. It’s a very big difference - sitting high in the stands or very close to the players.” He was shocked and delighted. He described in vivid colors what was happening in the penalty area during corner kicks...

Matsu, it turns out, plays hockey. I advised him to be careful with his hands. In response, he said that he once even broke his finger. Denis knows where I live in Amsterdam. The famous conductor Valery Gergiev also called me with words of support before the game with the Finns... We will definitely meet with him in the summer.

You have always been a fan of rock music - Pink Floyd, Dire Straits. Now, apparently, you love the classics too?

I can’t say that I love very complex classical music. For me to like it, it must have power and energy. I also love jazz. But one day I had a chance to see how Gergiev worked. He was conducting the famous Dutch orchestra, and a day or two before the performance I went to a rehearsal. There he was in work clothes, cursing. And he demanded perfection from musicians just like we, coaches, from players. This desire to get the best out of the team was very similar to a purely sporting situation. And it made a big impression on me.

What music did you listen to after the victory over Holland, when you were left alone in your room?

I didn't listen to music. After a match, and then after meeting with friends and family, I like to sit on the balcony of my room in complete silence for several hours. At such moments I like to light a cigar, take a glass of wine and look at the mountains, the stars, the Moon. At these moments, fragments of recent matches are scrolling through my head. This happened both after Sweden and after Holland.

THE STUDENTS SWALLOWED A KNIFE AT ME

After finishing your playing career and starting your coaching career, you simultaneously worked for 12 years as a physical education teacher at a school for difficult and mentally retarded teenagers.

When you play football, and at a serious level, you break away from the ordinary world and begin to live a life, I would say, exclusive. I always remind players of this - and that they need to feel responsible.

True, I myself, especially when I was playing for De Graafschap, had a slightly different situation. Living in my town and communicating every day with those who have known me since childhood, I never lost contact for a day with ordinary people who have to spend all their time struggling for existence. This forced me to live in reality and not get carried away. And when I started working at this school... It helped me a lot.

Each of my students went through difficult circumstances, poverty, and often crime. To be able to give them some perspective in life was great, even if it was very difficult. And it was no less difficult to get them to be on your side. If you succeed, it will help you a lot in later life, including in your career as a football coach.

What were the most difficult episodes you experienced there?

Some guys were over-emotional, others kept everything to themselves and were very timid. Some carried knives with them, which they took out when they felt some kind of injustice towards themselves. They could threaten me with a knife right in the classroom.

And to my classmates, and to me - when they decided that I was too harsh towards them. In these cases, I acted according to the main principle of judo. It lies in the fact that when some force is directed against you, you should not oppose it with your own, but turn the opponent’s force in his own direction. In this case, the danger of an attack will disappear.

Is it true that a student once punctured the tires of your car, and... at your request?

Is it true. The guy took out a knife, turned red, and was shaking: “I’m now... I’m now... I’m going to cut your tires now!” The situation was dangerous for the other guys, and I said: “Then what are you doing here? Go out the door, walk 200 meters and you will see my car. Go ahead!” And he went.

I hoped that while he was running these 200 meters, he would calm down. Firstly, because teenagers' attention tends to be distracted, and secondly, because he will have the opportunity to at least think a little and evaluate what he is about to do. I said to myself: “Okay, I’d rather he puncture the tires of my car than injure one of my classmates.” After all, tires are nothing more than rubber.

He punctured his tires, but returned calmer. He repeated: “Sorry... Sorry...” I let him back into the class and said: “Sit down, think about what you did. Maybe you’ll learn to control yourself.” After this episode it was already possible to talk to him.

Have you ever communicated with your students at that time?

Imagine, with the same guy! He had already finished school, he was 21 years old, and he was hired. One day, when I was sitting at home, the doorbell rang out of the blue. “Mister, I wanted to come to you and have a drink with you.” It was nice. Sometimes I still see those guys - after all, they live in the same area where my parents live... now only my father. They have a normal life, a normal job - maybe not some very highly paid one, but that doesn’t matter. What is more important is that they live their lives and are happy.

Is your charity still in existence in Korea?

Yes, and it is thriving. Every year we open one or two artificial fields either for the disabled, or for the mentally retarded, or for children from disadvantaged families, orphans, and so on. The foundation's employees work there all the time, and I come once or twice a year.

Are you planning to establish such a fund in Russia?

I'm always open to such ideas. But I can't do this alone. We need someone's help, first of all - the authorities.

MONEY IN MILK CANS

I read an amazing story about you. How PSV bought you from your native De Graafschap, but after the season in Eindhoven, De Graafschap fans collected 40 thousand guilders to bring you back - despite the fact that the club did not have the money for this.

This is true. De Graafschap was a poor club. His managers wanted to bring me back because the goal was to reach the top division. But there was no money to ransom me. Our area is a farming area. And the fans did this. They placed empty milk cans around the perimeter of the stadium, as well as in several busy places in the city. And everyone who wanted to participate in the payment of the transfer amount to PSV had to throw 10 guilders into the can - there was such a blue bill. And we collected the required amount.

I often tell the players that football is for people on the streets and that we shouldn't forget that. And I always remember this story.

How did you feel when the money was collected?

The feeling was ambivalent. On the one hand, feeling so in demand and needed is amazing. But what a responsibility! Poor people paid their hard-earned money for me. And when I played poorly, they met me on the street and exclaimed: “Give me back my ten guilders.”

Therefore, I pumped myself up all the time: “You must show your maximum!” And the next year we went to major league. You can imagine what joy this brought me.

25 CUPS OF COFFEE A DAY

Once upon a time, you loved to ride your Harley-Davidson motorcycle like a breeze. Do you still do this in your native land?

Sometimes. But for this the asphalt must be dry. I’m not rushing at great speed, I’m just having fun. Sometimes I take off my helmet, which is not allowed by the rules, in order to enjoy the unique roar of the motorcycle. It's great to drive along the sea or through the forest. However, this hasn’t happened for a long time, because I spent a lot of time in Russia. The last time I started my Harley was three or four months ago. But I want and will do it. As well as riding a bike, which I manage to do a little more often.

After the Euro, did you recover in this way?

Yes I prefer active recreation. I wear jeans, ride a motorcycle and bicycle, and play tennis.

All of Russia knows about your passion for cappuccino. When did this start?

In Spain. True, there is not cappuccino, but a special type of coffee - cortado. A small cup with a few drops of milk. And in Valencia I drank it constantly, both in Real and in Betis. I could drink 20 - 25 cups a day.

Isn't that much coffee bad for your health?

Every year and a half I conduct a full medical examination. There are no problems. Really, Elizabeth? (Here Hiddink’s life partner nodded affirmatively. - Note by I.R.) To be fair, I note that now I only drink a couple of cups of cappuccino a day.

At what age did you start smoking cigars?

Recently. About two years ago. One cigar per evening gives a feeling of peace and relaxation. Please note that I do not smoke inhales. For me it's just a form of relaxation.

Are you indifferent to cigarettes?

Now - yes. When I was a player, I also didn’t smoke or drink at all. But in the last six months of my playing career, I liked to smoke a cigarette after the game. Once I started training, I started doing it more often. In Holland they love to make hand-rolled cigarettes. I didn’t escape this hobby either.

And then he underwent serious surgery on his intestines. I took cigarettes with me to the hospital, thinking that after the operation I would immediately start smoking. But I didn’t even have such a desire. Not because he wanted to quit, but, apparently, because too much anesthesia was introduced into the body. And the body said: I don’t want nicotine. Since then - no cigarettes.

I CAN'T STAND CYNISM

Have you ever had moments in your life that could have broken you as a person?

You should always follow what your heart tells you. What I do - both in my professional and personal life.

I’m not asking about personal matters, but when did you have a similar choice in your professional life?

After the 2002 World Cup, I received offers that involved a lot of money. But if I were guided only by them in my choice, then after one or two years of work it would be time to end my coaching career. By accepting such offers, you neglect both the people around you and your profession.

Can you name the country?

Are you able to understand Zico, who went to work in Uzbekistan? And Rivaldo, who went there to play?

Zico went to Uzbekistan? I didn't know. People have the right to make the decisions they see fit, and I don't want to judge them. Many people called me crazy when I accepted offers from Korea, Australia and Russia. Let these “many” make their assessments. But I, not knowing the circumstances, will not.

With age and experience, having learned about life, some people lose faith in people. For you, it seems that it is only increasing. Why?

Even though I am not the youngest person or coach, I absolutely cannot understand cynical people. Sometimes you have to force yourself to travel 30, 40 years ago - and remember what you were like then. And what did you think about the people who taught and raised you? If they were cynics who did not believe in anything themselves, they could not teach you anything good.

Young people have the energy and ambition to achieve a lot in life. It was so a hundred years ago and it will be so in another hundred. And I have no right to kill these qualities through cynicism. On the contrary, my duty is to give birth to human ambitions and hopes.

When you last time did you cry?

Recently - when my mother died. A week earlier we had met, and I invited her to our new home. But she didn't have time...

She lived a wonderful life, 88 years old. And then one day she fell, ended up in a coma - and never regained consciousness. Of course, it was very difficult for me, because an entire era had ended. But it was even harder to watch the sadness of my father, who is 92. He understood what was happening. But at first I believed that my mother would have an operation and she would come back to life. And at some point I realized that she could not be returned. And when I saw the two of them... Mom in a coma and father holding her hand... It was a very, very emotional moment.

IN DAYS OF CRISIS, PEOPLE BECOME MORE HUMBLE

In 2002, you sensationally reached the semi-finals of the World Cup with the Korean team - and decided to leave. In 2008, no less sensationally, they reached the semi-finals of the European Championship with the Russian team - and decided to stay. What's the difference?

I also liked it in Korea. But the football infrastructure there was very good. The clubs, organized by large companies - Samsung, Hyundai and others - were well built in all respects. And I didn’t see any work for myself there that could help raise everything to another level.

And for Russia, Euro 2008 bronze is just the beginning of a football renewal. Infrastructure, search and development of talents, training of coaches. Much more needs to be done in this country to harness its full potential. I was happy to meet many wonderful people, whose support inspires me to continue working in Russia.

Can you imagine that our team will become the 2010 world champion?

I understand perfectly well: I have no right to answer that this is impossible. However, we must be realistic. What I mean is that it is now December 2008. First you need to qualify in our difficult group. To do this, we must work very seriously and receive the support of everyone in the country who is involved in football. And then we will think about the next goal. And remember: nothing is impossible.

What could you wish for 2009 for our newspaper and... for yourself?

For yourself? I am no longer young - and I hope that, as I grow old, I will maintain a healthy body and spirit. The same - healthy body and spirit - I wish it to everyone, including our team. I can guarantee that she will give everything in the game what she has. It is not in my power to always guarantee the result, but the spirit that we have recently developed will definitely remain. And we hope to make it even stronger.

As for SE, I wish that your newspaper continues to work with the same sense of responsibility, with the same dedication and dedication to its work that I have seen since the beginning of our communication. I am sure that this will happen. I am open to criticism and, moreover, I consider it necessary. If this criticism is fair and positive, it must be expressed, regardless of faces. We, in turn, will study it and improve. Because no one should ever think that he has achieved everything. Not a coach, not a football player, not a journalist - I repeat, no one. And next year, like any other, each of us will have to learn something.

The whole world, including Russia, was hit by a financial crisis. Do you think it will change us a lot?

There is a lot of talk about this now. Well, in times of crisis, people become more humble and creative. If your mindset is positive, if you are full of energy, ready to work hard and do not whine from melancholy and pessimism, you are not afraid of a crisis. It will only make you stronger.

"I FEEL GOOD WHERE I AM!"
"Sport Express" , 01.12.2012
Anzhi head coach Guus Hiddink spoke about why he began to think about retiring from his career, shared his vacation plans and remembered almost all of his famous players.

FIRST	OLYMPUS	NON OFFICER	DATE	MATCH	FIELD
1			16.08.2006	RUSSIA - LATVIA - 1:0	d
2			06.09.2006	RUSSIA - CROATIA - 0:0	d
3			07.10.2006	RUSSIA - ISRAEL - 1:1	d
4			11.10.2006	RUSSIA - ESTONIA - 2:0	d
5			15.11.2006	MACEDONIA - RUSSIA - 0:2	G
6			07.02.2007	HOLLAND - RUSSIA - 4:1	G
7			24.03.2007	ESTONIA - RUSSIA - 0:2	G
8			02.06.2007	RUSSIA - ANDORRA - 4:0	d
9			06.06.2007	CROATIA - RUSSIA - 0:0	G
10			22.08.2007	RUSSIA - POLAND - 2:2	d
11			08.08.2007	RUSSIA - MACEDONIA - 3:0	d
12			12.09.2007	ENGLAND - RUSSIA - 3:0	G
13			17.10.2007	RUSSIA - ENGLAND - 2:1	d
14			17.11.2007	ISRAEL - RUSSIA - 2:1	G
15			21.11.2007	ANDORRA - RUSSIA - 0:1	G
16			26.03.2008	ROMANIA - RUSSIA - 3:0	G
17			23.05.2008	RUSSIA - KAZAKHSTAN - 6:0	d
18			28.05.2008	SERBIA - RUSSIA - 1:2	n
19			04.06.2008	LITHUANIA - RUSSIA - 1:4	n
20			10.06.2008	SPAIN - RUSSIA - 4:1	n
21			14.06.2008	GREECE - RUSSIA - 0:1	n
22			18.06.2008	SWEDEN - RUSSIA - 0:2	n
23			21.06.2008	HOLLAND - RUSSIA - 1:3	n
24			26.06.2008	SPAIN - RUSSIA - 3:0	n
25			20.08.2008	RUSSIA - HOLLAND - 1:1	d
26			10.09.2008	RUSSIA - WALES - 2:1	d
27			11.10.2008	GERMANY - RUSSIA - 2:1	G
28			15.10.2008	RUSSIA - FINLAND - 3:0	d
29			28 03 2009	RUSSIA - AZERBAIJAN - 2:0	d
30			01 04 2009	LICHTENSTEIN - RUSSIA - 0:1	G
31			10 06 2009	FINLAND - RUSSIA - 0:3	G
32			12 08 2009	RUSSIA - ARGENTINA - 2:3	d
33			05 09 2009	RUSSIA - LICHTENSTEIN - 3:0	d
34			09 09 2009	WALES - RUSSIA - 1:3	G
35			10 10 2009	RUSSIA - GERMANY - 0:1	d
36			14 10 2009	AZERBAIJAN - RUSSIA - 1:1	G
37			14 11 2009	RUSSIA - SLOVENIA - 2:1	d
38			18 11 2009	SLOVENIA - RUSSIA - 1:0	G
39			03.03.2010	HUNGARY - RUSSIA - 1:1	G
39
+22 =7 10

Guus Hiddink is one of the brightest representatives Dutch coaching school, he successfully worked with both club teams, and with national teams.

Guus Hiddink

• Country: Holland.
• Born: November 8, 1946.

Biography and career of Guus Hiddink

Guus Hiddink was born in the small Dutch town of Varseveld into an ordinary family, where, besides him, there were five children, and, interestingly, all of them were boys.

Guus Hiddink - football player

Hiddink's career as a football player, to put it mildly, was not outstanding. Having started playing for the amateur Varsveld, he soon moved to the Dutch top division club De Graafschap, where he spent most of his career playing as a midfielder.

In 1970, one of the flagships of Dutch football, PSV, became interested in Hiddink, but he was unable to gain a foothold at the club’s core, and two years later he returned. Then there were two seasons in MLS - with the Washington Diplomats and the San Jose Earthquakes, returning home, first to NEC, and then to his native De Graafschap, where Guus Hiddink ended his playing career.

Guus Hiddink's coaching career

Guus Hiddink has a reputation for being somewhat of a lucky guy (one of his nicknames is “The Lucky Dutchman”), and many people have the impression that he was successful almost everywhere he worked. Actually this is not true.

As a head coach, Guus Hiddink worked with seven clubs and five national teams. And the balance was not always positive. We won’t go far - under his leadership, the Dutch national team failed to qualify for Euro 2016, where almost half of the participants now qualify qualifying tournament.

Therefore, my story will not be a chronological listing of the teams led by Guus Hiddink, I will only tell about the main milestones of his still glorious coaching career.

"PSV"

1987-1990, 2002-2006

In 1982, Guus Hiddink began working at coaching staff“De Graafschap”, two years later he moved to the PSV headquarters, and in 1987 he led the team. And Hiddink’s work time is inscribed in the history of PSV in golden letters. In the first season, the team under his leadership won the championship, the Dutch Cup and the European Cup. By the way, the only time in its history.

Hiddink fine-tuned the defensive game, which he led on the field - in 34 matches the team conceded only 28 goals (for Erdivise, where the score is 4:3 in almost every round, the result is outstanding), and the attack relied more on improvisation. As a result, in the championship matches, PSV players sent 117 goals into the opponents’ goal (Ajax was second in this indicator - 78), and the team’s striker Wim Kieft with 29 goals became top scorer tournament.

It was then that Hiddink acquired a reputation as a lucky guy. The fact is that PSV won the Champions Cup without winning a single victory in the last five matches and scoring only two goals in them! How so, you ask? Yes, it’s very simple - the quarter-finals with Bordeaux and the semi-finals with Real ended the same way - 1:1 away and 0:0 at home, i.e. PSV went further due to the away goal rule, and in the final against Benfica, which also ended with the score 0:0, Hiddink's team won in a penalty shootout.

Then there was the “golden double” in the 1988-1989 season and the Dutch Cup won in 1990, after which Guus Hiddink left the club.

Hiddink's second arrival at PSV came in 2002, and the club then won three consecutive league titles. Moreover, Hiddink again created a sensation by leading PSV to the semi-finals of the 2004-2005 Champions League. By the way, about Hiddink's luck. I propose a game - throughout my story I will note cases of his luck and bad luck, and you decide for yourself whether he really is that lucky.

So, the first one semi-final match against Milan ended in a 2:0 victory for the Italians. In the return home match, PSV managed to eliminate this gap, and everything went to extra time. But in the first added minute, Massimo Ambrosini still managed to score a goal. In the remaining time, Philip Cocu hit the Milan goal for the third time, but this did not save PSV.

Holland team

1994 – 1998, 2014-2015

After failures with Fenerbahce and Valencia, Guus Hiddink received an offer to lead the Dutch national team, which was experiencing better times. However, the Dutch had a good generation growing up, and they needed a coach who could give results with this team.

At Euro 1996, the Dutch were eliminated from the quarter-finals, losing to France on penalties. However, the team was still damp; its time had to come.

And this hour came - at that World Cup the Dutch team demonstrated best football, confidently taking first place in the group, and defeating the strong teams of Yugoslavia and Argentina in the playoffs. The semi-final with the current world champions, the Brazilians, which became a real highlight of the tournament, ended in a 1:1 draw, and the penalty kick was taken more accurately by the Brazilian football players.

And how do you like Guus Hiddink’s “luck” – being eliminated from two major tournaments in a row as a result of football roulette?

As I said above, under Hiddink’s leadership the Dutch were unable to overcome the qualifying barrier for the 2016 European Championship. Towards the end of his career, the Maestro noticeably lost control. I understand that the Dutch national team now has perhaps the worst generation of football players in the last half century, but letting the teams of the Czech Republic, Iceland and Turkey go ahead, given that the Czechs and Turks are also going through hard times, is clearly too much.

"Real Madrid

1998 – 1999

But let's go back to the late 90s. Immediately after the French World Cup, Guus Hiddink took charge of Real Madrid. In principle, this page in his career could be omitted, but his work at the “royal” club, whatever its results, should be noted.

At the time of Hiddink's arrival, Real Madrid were the reigning Champions League winners, but Barcelona held the championship title, and the Dutchman had the task of returning it to the Santiago Bernabeu. Plus, of course, a successful performance in the Champions League.

However, by February the gap in the championship from the Catalans was 11 points, and Hiddink was fired from the post of head coach of Real Madrid. The only trophy he managed to win was the Intercontinental Cup.

South Korean national team

2001-2002

Hiddink spent another year in Spain, coaching Betis, after which he took charge of the South Korean national team. The South Koreans were hosting the World Cup (together with Japan) and they needed a coach who could solve the problem of getting out of the group (before that, the South Koreans made it to the group five times final part World Cup, and invariably left the tournament after the first round).

It must be said that Guus Hiddink thoroughly approached the mission entrusted to him. Realizing that his wards had few trump cards, he took up what could be thoroughly improved - physical readiness.

Three months before the start of the championship, South Korean football players began purposeful preparation for the tournament - an event that has no analogues in the history of football! Nutritionists, massage therapists, special physical training trainers - everyone worked to achieve the same goal.

And, I must say, it was achieved. The way the South Koreans played the first five matches of the tournament had to be seen - non-stop movement, acceleration, jerking and fighting. Such a game even gave rise to a joke that Hiddink supposedly changes all field players during the break - anyway, for Europeans, all Koreans look the same.

Jokes aside, but the result - victories over the national teams of Portugal, Italy and Spain, and reaching the semi-finals of the World Cup - was impressive. “Yes, there was help from the judges,” experienced fans will remember. Yes, it was, and about this.

But there was something else. It was 0:1 in the 1/8 final match against Italy, when Hiddink threw more and more forwards onto the field, bringing their number to five, which ultimately allowed the score to be leveled. Did the referees give penalties to the Spanish national team players in the quarterfinals?

So Hiddink gave a result, and this result exceeded even bold expectations and is unlikely to be repeated in the foreseeable future.

Team Australia

2005 – 2006

They decided to use the South Korean experience in Australia. The national team of this country crushed its rivals in Oceania for a long time (this was before the Australians moved to the Asian Football Confederation), but invariably lost in play-offs representatives South America. The Dutch specialist was given a specific goal - to take the team to the finals of the World Cup.

And Hiddink coped with this task. The national teams of Australia and Uruguay exchanged home victories with a score of 1:0 in the play-offs, and the Australians won in a penalty shootout. How could it be otherwise? After all, they were led by “lucky” Hiddink.

In the final part of the championship, the Australian team started with a match against Japan and was losing 0:1 until the 84th minute. However, then the substitutions made by Hiddink played - a double by Tim Cahill and John Aloisi brought the Australians their first victory at the World Championships. Having lost to Brazil and drawn with Croatia, the Australian team advanced to the playoffs, where they met with the Italian team.

For most of the second half, the Australians played in the majority, but already in stoppage time, Spanish referee Luis Medina Contalejo “invented” a penalty, which he converted.

Again there is a problem with the image of “lucky Hiddink”. But in the quarter-finals the winner of this pair was waiting for the Ukrainian national team, which was quite tough for the “golden generation” of Australian football.

Russian national team

2006-2010

While still the coach of the Australian national team, Guus Hiddink signed a contract with the Russian Football Union, becoming the first foreign coach in the history of the Russian national team. I spoke in detail about his activities in this post in the article “”; I see no point in repeating myself; I will dwell on the main merits of the Dutchman.

Firstly, as is the case with South Korea, Hiddink immediately decided on the team's game concept. Realizing that our players are technically superior to few others, he relied on speed, significantly rejuvenating the team. At the same time, the Dutchman had to, as they say, cut to the quick, refusing the services of smart, technical, and not far from fast football players - Dmitry Loskov. Vladislav Radimov, and a little later – Yegor Titov.

Secondly, he expanded the circle of candidates for the national team. Under Hiddink, the players saw that in order to get into the national team you need to play football well, and it doesn’t matter where you do it. Pavel Pogrebnyak, for example, was drafted into national team from the provincial "Tom".

Thirdly, the “uncluttered” view of the Dutch specialist allowed him to make seemingly paradoxical decisions, which, nevertheless, produced results, such as the use of Yuri Zhirkov in the position of defender.

As a result, after several painful matches, we finally saw the Russian national team play football. The apotheosis of the qualifying tournament for Euro 2008 was the home victory over the England team, when the course of the unsuccessful match for us was turned upside down by the Dutchman's replacement, Roman Pavlyuchenko.

But Russian football players behaved in their “best” traditions, losing away to Israel, which had already lost its chances. Now we had to count on an away victory for the Croatian team, which had already secured its place in the group, over the British. This time luck was on the side of Hiddink and Russia - the Croats won and we went to the European Championship.

It still remains the brightest page in its history. Hiddink once again proved himself to be a master of preparing the team for a short tournament. In the quarterfinals, our team knocked out the compatriots of its head coach, the Dutch, from the tournament. Then Hiddink said at the pre-match press conference:

“I wouldn’t mind being in the role of a traitor.”

These words were remembered for a long time in his homeland, although Hus himself apologized, saying that the word “betrayal” was inappropriate in this situation.

But, in my opinion, the most important merit of Hiddink as coach of the Russian national team is that we, the fans, finally believed in the team, that the Russian national team knows how to play football. This was especially evident in the qualifying round of the 2010 World Cup, when our team competed with the German team. As a result, we lost both matches to the Germans and took second place in the group, but I remember that feeling “We can do it!”

And in the “Maribor shame”, I think the blame lies entirely with the football players. All Russian fans should thank Gus Ivanovich, as we called him, for the first time we saw the Russian team play (and win) in the playoffs of a major tournament.

Chelsea

In the middle of the 2008-2009 season, Luiz Felipe Scolari was fired from the post of Chelsea head coach and Roman Abramovich invited Hiddink to lead the team until the end of the season. The Dutchman worked with the Russian national team, but the RFU gave the go-ahead for combining posts, since it was Abramovich who provided the financial side of the contract of the Russian Football Union with the Dutchman.

With Chelsea, Guus Hiddink won the FA Cup and also reached the semi-finals of the Champions League, where he lost to Barcelona on aggregate (0:0 away and 1:1 at home) in one of the most scandalous confrontations of recent times. Remember when Norwegian referee Erik Hauge missed four (some even counted six) penalties against the Catalans.

What, put a plus sign in the “bad luck” column?

End of career

After that, Hiddink worked with Anzhi Makhachkala and the Turkish national team, but without much success, and ended his career at Chelsea, where he served as acting head coach in 2016 after the dismissal of Jose Mourinho.

Titles of Guus Hiddink

1. Six-time Dutch champion.
2. Four-time winner of the Dutch Cup.
3. Dutch Super Cup winner.
4. FA Cup winner.
5. Winner of the European Champions Cup.
6. Winner of the Intercontinental Cup.
7. Fourth place at the World Championships – 2 times.
8. Bronze medalist of the European Championship.

Family and personal life of Guus Hiddink

Guus Hiddink lived with his official wife Ine Bemkes for 30 years, and now maintains only friendly relations, although their marriage has not formally broken up (divorce in Holland is quite an expensive pleasure). Gus and Ine have two adult sons, Mark and Michael.

Hiddink lives with a Dutch woman of Surinamese origin, Elizabeth Pinas, whom he met during his work in South Korea.

• Throughout his entire football career, Guus Hiddink has not won a single trophy.
• Guus Hiddink has an honorary sports title"Honored Trainer of Russia."
• After the success of the Russian national team at Euro 2008, Guus Hiddink gained enormous popularity in our country, children were even named after him. And in Crimea they unveiled a monument to Guus Hiddink, and they did this even before the quarterfinal match with the Dutch.
• Gus’s popularity received a response from comedians - “Comedy Club” showed the country the skits “Guus Hiddink and his translator” and “Guus Hiddink after prison”, and in the “Big Difference” program they performed “Guus Hiddink’s Song”.
• And in Russia they made a documentary about him, called: “Hiddink. Gus Ivanovich."

• But this is nothing compared to South Korea. For his success at the World Championships, Gus received the title of Honorary Citizen of this country, a luxurious villa on one of the islands, free travel in all South Korean cities, and free flights on two South Korean airlines. A stadium in the city of Gwangju was also named after him, and the most ardent fans called on Hiddink to run for president of the country.
• In addition to his native language, Guus Hiddink speaks English, German, French, Spanish, Italian and Portuguese, and can also speak South Korean, Japanese and Russian.
• As the coach of Real Madrid, Guus Hiddink promised to shave his mustache if the club won the Intercontinental Cup, and he kept his promise.
• In September 2006, Guus Hiddink was found guilty of tax evasion. In the Netherlands, a court sentenced him to a fine of 45 thousand euros and a suspended 6 months in prison.

Well, at the end of my story, I propose to estimate the balance of Guus Hiddink’s luck and answer the question, what was the key to his success - luck or skill? I answered this question a long time ago and unequivocally – mastery.

After all, pure luck alone won’t get you far in coaching.