Guus Hiddink where. The Dutchman has disappeared

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 too early high salaries. 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 practice was guaranteed, 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 the home world championship? 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. England head coach Fabio CAPELLO congratulates Guus HIDDINK on the FA Cup. Photo 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 much more on TV more games, than would do it 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 a great history. 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 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 was unable to qualify for Euro 2016, where almost half of the participants in the qualifying tournament now qualify.

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 on the coaching staff of De Graafschap, two years later he moved to the headquarters of PSV, and in 1987 he headed 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 Korea national team

2001-2002

Hiddink spent another year in Spain, coaching Betis, after which he became head of the national team. South Korea. 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 of 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 in the case of 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 called up to the 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 the 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 filmed about him documentary, which is 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, on sheer luck coaching you won't get far.

November 8, 2016 to the Dutch coach Guus Hiddink turns 70 years old. In our country today, he is best known for his work at the head of the Russian national football team from 2006 to 2010.

On April 14, 2006, the history of domestic football was divided into before and after Guus Hiddink. He became the first foreign coach in the history of the Russian national team. The Dutch specialist also became the first highly paid mentor of the Russian team. It was under him that our team achieved highest achievement in its history: won bronze medals European Championship 2008.

Flying Dutchman

How did the Dutchman Guus Hiddink come to Russia? Let's say right away that he was a fairly average footballer: even in the championship season for his modest club De Graafschap, Hus was never able to receive an invitation to the national team. The midfielder from the titled club PSV did not make it into the national team either. But his failures on the football field were fully compensated by his bright coaching career.

Guus Hiddink, 1988. Photo: Commons.wikimedia.org / NL-HaNA, ANEFO

After just two years of working as a regular coach in his almost native De Graafschap, Hiddink was invited to a similar position at PSV, where after another three years he received a promotion to head coach. You have to understand that growing from player to head coach in five years is an unprecedented success by the standards of 1987.

In three seasons at the head of the club from Eindhoven - far from the most popular and famous in Europe - he turns a strong Dutch team into a three-time winner of the national championship, a three-time winner of the National Cup and, which generally equates to a miracle, the winner of the European Champions Cup. PSV won this title under Hiddink for the first and only time in the team's history.

PSV player Hans Van Breukelen and head coach Guus Hiddink's club holding the European Cup, 1988. Photo: Commons.wikimedia.org / Nationaal Archief Fotocollectie Anefo

In 1990, Hiddink did not take the most deliberate step, leaving PSV and signing a contract with the Turkish Fenerbahce. In his new country, the coach is unable to repeat the success of PSV, which the management of the Istanbul club was counting on. Gus is again forced to change his place of work and country, moving to Spain, namely Valencia. Under the leadership of a Dutch specialist, the local club of the same name regularly enters European competitions, but cannot compete for the championship title or compete the strongest clubs on the European stage. In 1993, he left the team, but in 1994 he returned to it to work until the end of the season in place of his fired successor.

In 1994, Hus received real recognition in his homeland: he was offered to lead the Dutch national team. With her, he gets to the 1996 European Championship, where Holland appears as a disciplined team with a tough coaching hand, but with a lack of experience and, as a result, not the most successful result. However, the leadership of Dutch football sees prospects in Hiddink’s work and trusts him with the national team for another two-year cycle - preparation for the 1998 World Cup - and they are not mistaken. Two years later, Hiddink leads the Netherlands to the semi-finals of the world championship, but then loses to Brazil in the fight for reaching the final and to Croatia in the match for third place. After this, the coach leaves his post.

Immediately he receives an invitation from one of the most titled, rich, famous and powerful clubs in the world: from Real Madrid. One of those offers you can't refuse. With Hiddink at the helm, the Galacticos win the Intercontinental Cup. But little credit goes to the Dutchman for this triumph. He won only one match, to which the team was led by his predecessor, who won the Champions League with it. Even this title could not save Gus from dismissal, which followed unsatisfactory results for such a team.

Failure awaited the coach in the next club: also Real, but from the city of Betis. In 2001, Hiddink, slightly forgotten by fans, received the opportunity for rehabilitation. An opportunity that many laugh at: he is invited to join the South Korean national team preparing to host Japan in 2002. home championship peace. Three months before the start of the competition, Hiddink locks the entire team in training camp, where his physiotherapists turn mediocre football players into real fitness monsters capable of running a marathon. Partly in physical fitness, partly in the most severe discipline, partly in the refereeing “miscalculations” lies the secret of South Korea’s victories over Italy in the 1/8 finals and over Spain in the quarterfinals. Having beaten the strongest European teams, the Koreans lose to Germany in the semi-finals of the World Cup and lose to Turkey in the bronze medal game. But Hiddink still becomes a national hero and the first in history honorary citizen Korea, receives as a gift an island with a mansion and the right to ride a taxi around the country for free, as well as fly on airlines of this state.

From 2002 to 2006, Hiddink took a short break, returned to Holland, took the helm of his now native PSV and led the club to three championship titles. In 2005, he was invited to take over as head coach of the Australian national team. The goal is to qualify for the 2006 World Championships. The goal may seem simple enough today as Australia takes part in the Asian qualifiers. football confederation and has a good chance of winning a direct ticket. At the same time, the Australians treated Oceania, and even in the event of victory in qualifying competitions they did not receive a direct ticket, but had to play for the right to go to the World Cup play-offs with the fifth team from South America. Therefore, Australians have not seen the World Cup since 1974.

Everything changed when Gus took the helm. He found a place on the field for each of the “star” players of the Australian team from English Premier League, managing to get the rest of the team to work for them. So he won the qualifying tournament, beat the two-time world champions from Uruguay in the play-offs, advanced from the group already in the final tournament of the world championship and almost defeated Italy in the 1/8 finals, losing only in the last minutes of extra time. By this point, the entire planet was rooting for Australia, with the exception of one small peninsula, shaped like a boot. Thus, Guus Hiddink gained worldwide fame as a master of making a team capable of solving problems at the world level from a set of fairly average players.

Perhaps that is why he received an invitation to take the Russian national team under his wing, which the new President of the Russian Football Union Vitaly Mutko. He was the first to decide to invite a foreign specialist to our national team. We all remember very well what came of it.

From London to Makhachkala and back

What happened with Guus Hiddink at the helm of the Russian national team can be called the pinnacle of his coaching career, putting the Euro 2008 bronze medal on a par with the fourth places in the world championship with Holland and South Korea. From that moment on, Hiddink's career, as well as the results of the Russian team, began to decline.

After working for six months part-time in the “maternity” position of acting head coach at Chelsea, Hiddink left Russia without the 2010 World Cup, avoided performing his duties in every possible way for six months, regularly receiving his salary, and in April 2010, even before the end of the contract with our team, signed an agreement with the Turkish national team. However, Hiddink’s relationship with the Turkish coast did not work out even on the second try: the team’s dismal results and failure to qualify for the 2012 European Championship forced the coach to write a statement and leave his post.

Guus Hiddink as head coach of the Turkish national team. Photo: www.globallookpress.com

As luck would have it, the Dutchman came across Anzhi Makhachkala, which began its “new history” with high-profile purchases and crazy ambitions. It is quite possible that the insatiability of the club from Dagestan was partly prompted by the adoption of financial fair play rules: in Europe they did not want to see nouveau riche in the Champions League, and Manchester City and PSG were enough there. Returning to Russia, Hiddink managed to win with Anzhi bronze awards championship, lead the club to the Europa League playoffs and the final of the National Cup. This is not the result the Eagles owner expected from him. Suleiman Kerimov. In 2013, Hiddink left his post, and later short time short life ended in tragedy new story"Dagestan club.

A year later, Hiddink “surfaced” in the Dutch national team, which he led at the end of the World Cup in Brazil. However, Gus did not manage to enter this “river” a second time. From the very first match, the Dutch began to suffer a collapse, which ended with Hiddink’s early dismissal and the Orange’s failure to qualify for the European Championship.

Latest on at the moment Hiddink's place of work was the familiar London Chelsea. Roman Abramovich I couldn’t find anyone better than the Dutchman who was available at that time to cover the head coach’s position after his dismissal Jose Mourinho. London again, Chelsea again, acting prefix again. before the words "head coach". If last time with the team Hiddink still managed to win the FA Cup and reach the semi-finals of the Champions League, now it was relegation from all European cups and - the lowest for Roman Abramovich's team - tenth place in the national championship.

Pre-Russian mustachioed Hiddink

Gus (Goose) Ivanovich Hiddink, aka the Wizard (born November 8, 1946) is a practicing Dutch coach, ready to lead any clubs and national teams for an exorbitant fee. However, in terms of level of unscrupulousness and venality, Hiddink is seriously inferior to his colleague and fellow countryman, the ever-memorable Dutch Lawyer.
Hiddink first appeared in Russia in the summer of 2006 at the invitation of the then Head of the RFU - for 7 million euros a year, Gus Ivanovich, in the shortest possible time, undertook to raise the Russian national team from its knees and take it to the European Championship. Of course, some Russian specialists took the invitation of such a highly paid “Varangian” with hostility, because it offended their professional and masculine dignity. The consequence of this was constant furious barking at the Dutch mentor:

Gus comes up with a cunning Dutch plan

“I know in what condition my players left for the national team and in what condition they returned. I still don’t understand why the key stage of preparation of clubs that defend the country’s honor in the international arena was disrupted? What has Hiddink achieved? Who needed that match anyway? In our country there is some strange servile attitude towards foreigners. Let us finally look at their activities objectively. Dutch for Russian football haven't done anything yet. Why should others clean up his mistakes and remain silent at the same time?”

(According to rumors, Valery Georgievich’s negative attitude towards the head coach of the Russian national team was caused by the fact that in 1999 Hiddink promised that he would shave his mustache if Real Madrid, led by him, won the Intercontinental Cup, and, unlike his Russian colleague, kept that promise.)
Nevertheless, the Russians, with the help of the Croats, managed to qualify for the 2008 European Championship, where they unexpectedly managed to leave the group and even more unexpectedly beat the Netherlands national team in the quarterfinals (3:1), which, of course, is the main victory of domestic football for the last 20 years! Alas, with the winning of the “Small Bronze Medals” of Euro 2008, the magic of the Wizard Gus completely dried up and, as a result, the Russian team quickly adopted its usual knee-elbow position: after epic loss of the Russians in Slovenia in the play-off match for qualifying for the 2010 World Cup the embarrassed Hiddink hastily retreated to Turkey...

Stop feeding the Caucasus!

“Sixty percent of our team consisted of overfed fat cats who, due to their imposing nature, cannot run the extra 5-10 meters. Because of the abundance of money that fell on their heads, they completely lost their heads. I just figured it out: the entire Slovenian national team, including massage therapists, earns less than Arshavin. These insane salaries, which Russian football players for the most part do not deserve, have simply corrupted them! As for Hiddink, I said a month ago before the game with Germany that I didn’t see anything extraordinary in his work. He failed the play-offs!”

Finally, in February 2012, Hiddink was called up by Suleiman Abusaidovich to the Yellow-Green Banners of Anzhi Makhachkala. Once in Dagestan, Gus Ivanovich embraced Islam without a twinge of conscience and changed the Orthodox patronymic given to him earlier:

“Yes, I read several rumors about Gus Magomedovich. I don't mind this nickname at all. Whatever people like, let them call it that. Gus Suleimanovich? Yes, that sounds great!”

/ Khiddinkoyev Huseyn

Ineffective coaching activities Gus Suleimanovich at Anzhi continued until July 2013, when Hiddinkoyev, anticipating an imminent and inevitable karachun, resigned and returned to the Netherlands.

Hiddink Huss – it has direct relation to the Angevin Aul, live!
Basic Concepts

At the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France, he coached the Netherlands national team, which took fourth place. At the 2002 World Championships in Japan and Korea, he achieved the same result (this time sensational) with the South Korean team. At the 2006 FIFA World Cup he led the Australian national team, which under his leadership reached the first World Cup in 32 years and performed successfully, reaching the 1/8 finals; At the same time he continued to coach PSV.

Before the start of the Euro 2008 cycle, on April 14, 2006, he was approved as the head coach of the Russian national team, and took up his duties in July 2006. The contract was signed for 2.5 years, with the possibility of extension for another 2 years if successful. At the 2008 European Football Championship, the Russian national team led by him showed its best results in 20 years and unexpectedly won bronze medals, losing in the semifinals to the future European champion.

Player career

Hiddink began his playing career at the amateur club Varseveld. He became a professional player, signing a contract with Dutch club De Graafschap in 1967. He spent most of his career here and still cares about this club. In 1970 he played for PSV, but, having lost in the fight for a place in the team, a year later he returned to De Graafschap, where he played until 1976. He also played in the North American League for the Washington Diplomats and San Jose Earthquakes before returning home to sign with Nijmigen. In 1981, he returned to De Graafschap, where he ended his playing career a year later. During his playing career, he usually played as a midfielder.

Coaching career

Beginning of a coaching career

In 1987, Hiddink took charge of PSV Eindhoven, with which in 1988 he won the first European Cup in the team's history. From that moment on, PSV began to be talked about as one of the three giants of Dutch football, along with Ajax and Feyenoord. Hiddink also won three Dutch football championships, between 1987 and 1990.

Netherlands national team (1995-1998)

Hiddink took charge of the Dutch national team on January 1, 1995. His main principle was the strictest discipline, the adherence to which he demonstrated at Euro 96, when he recalled Edgar Davids from the national team for negligence in his rules. In the national team, Hiddink adhered to a 4-4-2 formation, with the flanks pushed forward and supported by defensive midfielders. Hiddink left the Dutch national team shortly after losing to the Brazilians in the semi-finals of the 1998 World Cup in a penalty shootout.

Spanish Primera (1998-2000)

In the summer of 1998, Hiddink took charge of Real Madrid, with whom he won the Intercontinental Cup, but due to bad results in the Spanish Championship in February 1999 he was fired. In 2000, he took charge of Real Betis, with whom he also failed to achieve high places in the championship, and in May 2000 he left the team.

Team Korea (2001-2002)

In 2002, Korea, together with Japan, hosted the final part of the FIFA World Cup. The Korean national team played as host. Hiddink managed to create a good, well-played team in a relatively short time. At the World Championships in South Korea, the team achieved victory over the Polish team in the first stage (2-0), and after drawing (1-1) with the USA and defeating the Portuguese team (1-0), the South Korean team advanced from the group. Having defeated Italy (2-1) in the 1/8 finals match, and then beating Spain (1-0) in a penalty shootout, the Korean team reached the semi-finals, where they lost to the German team and eventually took an honorable fourth place for it, losing to the Turkish team in the bronze medal match.

One of the reasons for this was provided to Hiddink, thanks to the features public administration football in Korea, the opportunity to conduct a training camp with the national team lasting about three months, preceding the final tournament of the World Cup; none of the leading teams in the world had such an opportunity. Thanks to this, the physical readiness of the Korean team significantly exceeded the readiness of all its rivals in the final part. Following the championship, Hiddink was elevated to the rank of national hero in Korea; he was given the right to free use of a number of modes of transport, accommodation in hotels, etc.

PSV Eindhoven (2002-2005)

In 2002, Hiddink decided to return to his home country and took over as coach of PSV Eindhoven. During his second spell at PSV, Hiddink won three Dutch championships (2002–03, 2004–05 and 2005–06), the 2005 Dutch Cup, and the 2003 Dutch Super Cup. In Europe, in the Champions League in 2004–05, he led PSV to the club's first ever semi-final appearance in the competition in its current form. (PSV won the European Cup, predecessor modern League champions in 1988 with Hiddink as coach). This period at PSV made Hiddink the most successful Dutch coach in history.

Australia national team (2005-2006)

In July 2005, Hiddink also became the head coach of the Australian national team, which was tasked with getting to the World Cup in Germany. The Dutchman managed to lead the team to the final part of the 2006 World Cup, and in the play-offs the Uruguay team was beaten in a penalty shootout. Australians went to the world championship for the first time since 1974.

In the group stage of the 2006 World Cup, Australia first defeated Japan (3:1), then lost to Brazil (0:2), and in the decisive match achieved a draw with Croatia (2:2), which allowed it to take second place and reach the 1/ 8 finals. There, the players from the Green Continent lost to Italy (0:1), and the only goal was scored in stoppage time from a penalty kick, which experts and fans considered more than controversial.

In Australia, Hiddink has become one of the most popular people. At the national team’s matches, fans unfurled posters “No Guus, No Glory”, “In Guus We Trust” and others. The idea was put forward to introduce a “Hus tax” in the country in order to use the proceeds to keep Hiddink from leaving for Russia.

However, in August the Dutchman took up his duties as head coach of the Russian national team.

Russian national team (2006)

In March 2006 in Russian media Information has emerged that Guus Hiddink will become the new coach of the national team after the World Cup. The contract with the Russian Football Union (RFU) was officially signed on April 14, after which the Dutchman focused on preparing the Australian national team for the tournament in Germany.

In August, the Dutchman took up his duties as head coach of the Russian national team. His debut was a friendly match with Latvia, won with a score of 1:0. The start of the Euro 2008 qualifying campaign was unsuccessful for Hiddink: in three home matches, his team lost four points, drawing with Croatia (0:0) and Israel (1:1) and defeating Estonia (2:0).

However, on November 15, the Russian team won a beautiful away victory over Macedonia (2:0) and took second place in Group E, located between the teams of Croatia and England. According to all Russian sports publications, the match in Skopje was the best for the national team in several years. Hiddink himself also highly praised the actions of his players.

Hiddink's contract with the RFU is for four years under the 2+2 system. The annual salary of a specialist is two million euros. According to unconfirmed reports, the initiator of Hiddink’s invitation to the Russian national team was Roman Abramovich. The coach does not live in Russia permanently, coming to the country from time to time.

On February 7, 2007, Hiddink suffered his first defeat with the Russian team. IN friendly match against Holland, Russian football players, who had recently returned from vacation, looked much weaker. The game in Amsterdam ended in victory for the Netherlands team - 4:1.

In June 2007, the Russian team in qualifying tournament Euro 2008 won over Andorra (4:0) and achieved an away draw with Croatia (0:0). In September, the Russians beat Macedonia, and then suffered their first defeat under Hiddink’s leadership in an official match, losing away to the British (0:3); experts noted, however, quite high quality game and the influence on its course of the disallowed net goal of Konstantin Zyryanov.

On October 17, 2007, the Russian team took revenge from England, winning in Moscow (2:1). The main hero of the match was Roman Pavlyuchenko, who came on as a substitute in the second half and scored two goals. Before this meeting, RFU President Vitaly Mutko announced that an agreement in principle had been reached with Hiddink to extend the contract until the summer of 2010, thus showing that trust in the coach does not depend on the results of a single, even key, match. According to Hiddink's later comments, this added to his confidence in the Russian side's interest in cooperation, which had a beneficial effect on his subsequent work.

The end of the qualifying round turned out to be extremely dramatic for the Russians. On November 17, 2007, Hiddink's team lost to the Israelis in Ramat Gan in the last minutes (1:2), after which its chances of qualifying final tournament European Championships have become minimal. However, on the last match day (November 21), the Russian team prevailed over Andorra (1:0), and England unexpectedly lost at home to Croatia (2:3), for which the match no longer had tournament significance. The Russians took second place in qualifying group E, one point ahead of the English, and received a ticket to Euro 2008.

The performance of the Russian team at Euro 2008 was a real sensation. Despite the fact that in the group stage of the European Championship the Russians lost to Spain with a score of 1:4, they subsequently defeated the teams of Greece (1:0) and Sweden (2:0) and reached the quarterfinals. The meeting of the Russian team with the favorites of the championship - the team of the Netherlands - was also victorious (in extra time, Hiddink's team confidently beat the Dutch with a score of 3:1), as a result of which the Russians reached the semi-finals and became bronze medalists of Euro 2008 (the match for third place is not held , and bronze medals are awarded to both semi-finalists who did not reach the final). The team's victory was greeted with delight by Russian fans: in all Russian cities on Sunday night spontaneous mass celebrations took place according to the same scenario: people took to the central streets and squares, fraternized, hugged, and chanted “Russia, forward!” and congratulated each other on the victory. More than 700,000 people took to the streets in Moscow.

Paying tribute to the role that Hiddink played in preparing Russian football players, the press called the coach a “wizard.” After the victory over the Netherlands, the media jokingly called him the “Great Traitor” (remembering that the day before the Russia-Netherlands game Hiddink himself joked that he was ready to try on the role of a traitor). However, immediately after the match, Hiddink asked not to call him that, regretting that he had used this word at the press conference before the match.

In the semi-finals of Euro 2008, the Russian team was defeated by the Spanish team with a score of 0:3. The Spaniards' opponents in the final match were the German team. For players and members coaching staff On the night of June 26-27, the Russian team was awarded bronze medals at the European Championship.

In July 2008, it became known that for the successful entry national team for Euro 2008, the National Football Academy (NAF) intends to pay Hiddink three million euros - a bonus payment, the amount of which was agreed upon in the contract concluded with the coach two years earlier. It was noted that Hiddink would receive one million for reaching the final of the European Championship, one million for reaching the quarterfinals of Euro 2008, and one million for reaching the semifinals. At the same time it was reported that a new contract would be signed with Hiddink. However, already at the end of 2008, due to the financial crisis in the country, the leadership of the Russian Football Union had difficulties paying Hiddink’s salary. In December Russian oligarch, Chairman of the Duma of the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug and owner football club Chelsea Roman Abramovich announced his intention to allocate $5 million to finance the salary of the famous coach. According to media reports, Abramovich personally talked with Hiddink and assured him that the country “needs him, and regardless of the financial situation in Russia, all obligations to him will be fulfilled.”

On December 30, 2008, “for services in the field of physical education and sports,” Hiddink was awarded the honorary title “Honored Coach of Russia.”

Chelsea FC

After a series of lackluster games in the English Championship, head coach Luiz Felipe Scolari was fired from Chelsea FC. After short negotiations, Hiddink took charge of Chelsea FC until the end of the 2008/2009 season. In 2009, Chelsea FC under the leadership of Hiddink won the FA Cup, defeating Everton FC in the final match with a score of 2:1. Under his leadership, the Londoners reached the semi-finals of the Champions League, where only in the last minute of the return match they lost their ticket to the final due to Iniesta's magnificent strike that equalized the score.

Failure to pay Dutch taxes

In September 2006, the head coach of the Russian national team, Guus Hiddink, appeared in court in the Dutch city of 's-Hertogenbosch on charges of tax evasion between the end of January and the beginning of February 2006. Hiddink was accused of failing to pay taxes to the Dutch treasury after returning from South Korea in 2002-2003. In February 2007, the court found Hiddink guilty and sentenced him to a fine of 45 thousand euros (the maximum in this case) and a suspended sentence of 6 months in prison.