By Andrew Warshaw
July 11 – Former England manager Fabio Capello and ex-Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola are among 13 candidates being touted as the new Russia national team coach as the country looks ahead to the 2018 World Cup.
Russia suffered a poor European Championship on and off the field and are keen to start afresh in the hope of creating a successful side in the build-up to hosting FIFA’s global showpiece.
Capello (pictured above, right), one of the most decorated coaches in Europe, has been unemployed since being replaced as England boss by Roy Hodgson, while Guardiola (pictured below, left) stepped down after a hugely successful spell at Barça.
They are the two biggest names the Russia Football Union (RFU) says it is considering hiring in succession to Dick Advocaat.
Others on the high-profile list include former Italy coach Marcello Lippi, former Tottenham Hotspur boss Harry Redknapp and ex-Liverpool manager Rafael Benítez (pictured below, centre) who is expected to meet with Russian officials later this week.
“The Russian Football Union has officially informed that the organisation plans to consult, in full compliance with the rules of FIFA and UEFA, the appointment of the head coach of Russian national team, with the following experts: Rafael Benítez, Anatoliy Byshovets, Marcelo Bielsa (pictured above, centre), Valery Gazzaev, Josep Guardiola, Fabio Capello, Andrey Kobelev, Yuri Krasnozhan, Marcello Lippi, Valery Nepomnyashchy, Nikolai Pisarev, Harry Redknapp, Yuri Semin,” a RFU statement read.
“The [RFU] officially would like to inform that it plans to hold talks with these specialists about one of them becoming the head coach of the Russian national team.”
Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini had also been linked with the job before signing a new deal with the English Premier League champions, while Guardiola’s inclusion comes despite the Spaniard repeatedly saying he would take a year off.
Phil Smith, Redknapp’s (pictured above) agent, said his client was open to negotiations.
“Would Harry have a problem coming to Russia?” he was quoted as saying in the Russian media.
“No.
“He’s ready to go and live in any country, especially as big as Russia.
“I think such offer would definitely interest him if it came, but so far we haven’t heard anything about it.”
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