By David Gold
May 2 – Russia coach Dick Advocaat will leave his post to return to manage Dutch club PSV Eindhoven after this summer’s European Championship.
Russia under-21 manager Nikolai Pisarev, Zenit St Petersburg coach Luciano Spalletti or former CSKA Moscow manager Valery Gazzaev could replace the highly respected Dutchman.
The replacement for Advocaat (pictured top) – who took over the Russia role in 2010 – will have the chance to take Russia to the FIFA 2014 World Cup in Brazil and possibly the UEFA 2016 European Championships in France.
Russia has been named as hosts of the following World Cup in 2018.
“It’s true that I will leave my job after the European Championship,” Advocaat told Sport Express.
“I do not want to give the reason just yet, but one thing I can say for sure – it’s not because of money.
“I have reached a verbal agreement to coach PSV; all we need now is to sign a formal contract.”
Russian Football Union President Sergey Fursenko, who brought Advocaat to Zenit St Petersburg when he was the club’s President, said that he had tried to extend Advocaat’s contract.
“During the negotiations with Dick Advocaat the Russian Football Association (RFA) had offered to prolong his contract after Euro 2012,” Fursenko said on the RFU’s website.
“At the same time, the coach had a right to make his own decision before the start of the Euros.
“Dick chose to exercise his right – we respect his decision.”
Advocaat, who was the first foreign manager to win a league title in Russia when he led Zenit in 2007, replaced compatriot Guus Hiddink in 2010 as national coach, but reports have suggested that Fursenko will look for a Russian to replace him.
Russia international and CSKA Moscow defender Sergei Ignashevich has said the new appointment should be a Russian coach or someone who is already familiar with the country, such as Italy-born Spalletti (pictured above) who has just led Zenit to a second successive title.
“If we now hire a foreigner without experience of working in Russia then it’s a significant risk,” he told RIA Novosti.
“He’d need a long time to familiarise himself with the special characteristics of the job.”
Russia are in Group A of this summer’s European Championship along with co-hosts Poland, Czech Republic and Greece.
It will be heavy favourites to qualify for the quarterfinals and optimistic of matching its impressive Euro 2008 performance when it reached the semi-finals.
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