Last month, Advocaat resigned as Belgium coach after just six months in the job and will replace compatriot Guus Hiddink in a country where he enjoyed success at club level with Zenit St Petersburg.

When he stepped down from the Belgium job, Advocaat was quoted in the Dutch media as saying: “Russian soccer is of a higher level than Belgian soccer. It matches the level I am used to working at.”

Advocaat led Zenit to a league title, domestic cup victory and a UEFA Cup triumph in his three-year spell at the club and has been linked with the national post since Hiddink announced in February he would step down when his contract expired in June.

Russia failed to qualify for this year’s World Cup finals after losing a two-legged playoff to Slovenia.

Advocaat has had previous spells as a national coach with his native Netherlands, the UAE and South Korea as well as successful stints at club level with PSV Eindhoven and Glasgow Rangers.

News source: Times LIVE
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