Guus Hiddink was born on November, 8, 1946 in the settlement of Varsseveld. He is known as a mentor of the strongest European clubs and select teams. Furthermore, Guus Hiddink is the only one person, who made two different teams through to the semifinal. “Lucky Dutchman” did it with the select teams of Holland (1998) and South Korea (2002). After the select team of Australia was through to the last 16 in World Cup-2006, Hiddink becomes an official trainer of the Russian team. The two-year contract with the Russian Football Union was signed on the April, 14, 2006. In the summer the way of the Russian Select team to the semis of the World Cup-2006 begun.

Long way to Euro-2008.

So, Guus Hiddink took up his duties as a chief trainer of the Russian select team in August, 2006. He won the first match against Latvia 1:0. The next three matches, a part of the try-out for Euro-2008 were not so successful. The Russian team lost four points in a stand-off with Croatia (0:0) and Israel (1:1) but won against Estonia (2:0). But the next away competition was not only successful, but beautiful. Russia won in the match with Macedonia with the score 2:0. According to the estimates of the most Russian sport titles, this match in Skopje was the most outstanding in recent years. Hiddink himself was satisfied with their playing.

In June, 2007 in the frames of the qualifying matches for Euro-2008 Russian select team won 4:0 playing with Andorra and reached score draw with Croatia. In September the Russians under the guidance of the “Lucky Dutchman” won from Macedonia, but then came to grief in the official match with Britain (0:3). Nevertheless, the specialists noticed a high quality of playing. Later, on the October, 17, 2007 the Russians got back own in Moscow, with the score 2:1. After that, in spite of the result of the previous official match, very important for Euro-2008 Hiddink’s contract was prolonged. And the Russian Football Federation didn’t mistake! After the losing in the match with Israel, on the last day of the qualification matches (November, 21) the Russian team got the best of the match with Andorra (1:0). At the time the English team lost playing with Croatia. This combination gave the Russian select team one more point and a ticket to the Euro-2008.

Sensation of the Euro-2008

The performance on the Russian team under the Hiddink’s guidance became a sensation. Although the team lost playing with Spain, it won from Greece (1:0) and Sweden (2:0) and enters the quarterfinals. After that the Russians won in the match with the Dutch 1:3 and entered the semifinal. The Russian select team became a bronze medalist of the Euro-2008. The Russian football fans didn’t sleep that night. The results of Hiddink’s work were met enthusiastically.

The press named Hiddink a magician after the semifinals at Euro-2008, appreciating in value his work with the soccer players. After the match with Holland they named him a big renegade (meaning ambiguousness of the situation), but later Guus asked not to call him so any more.

Labor agreement Hiddink-Russia

Hiddink’s contract with the Russian Football Federation was tied for the period of four years divided in two parts. His annual wage comes to two million euro. It was the Russian tycoon and the chairman of the Duma of the Chukotka Autonomous District, Roman Abramovich, who supposedly was an initiator of inviting Hiddink to Russia. The trainer doesn’t live in the country permanently, coming from time to time. In July, 2008 it became known that The National Football Academy is going to pay him three million euro as a bonus for the successful performance of the Russian team at the Euro-2008. At the same time it was reported about one more contract. But already in the end of 2008 the Russian Football union felt the beginning of the global economic crisis in Russia. Roman Abramovich stepped in to resolve the situation. Hiddinnk then went on to work with Abramovich's FC Chelsea in the season of 2008-2009, and brought them to their FA Cup victory. 

In February 2012, following an unsuccessful stint with Turkey, Hiddink joined FC Anzhi Makhachkala, sponsored by billionaire Suleiman Kerimov. Hiddink is now ranked fourth in the table of the most highly paid coaches, with an estimated 10 million euro annual salary.

Some facts

On the December, 30, 2008 was titled as “Honored Trainer of Russia” for outstanding service in the field of sport. Before that, in the motherland, Hiddink was convicted for the non-payment of taxes and committed to money penalty and suspended sentence.

Hiddink is fond of learning languages. Except his native language, Dutch, he is fluent in English, German, French and Spanish, a little worse he is in Italian and Portuguese and has basic knowledge in Korean and Japanese. Now Hiddink is learning Russian.