'Workaholic' Advocaat named Hiddink's Russia successor

Hiddink took charge of his final match in March, a 1-1 draw with Hungary, but has remained in his role until his contract formally expires on 15 July.

Advocaat was an easy choice for RFS president Sergei Fursenko, who worked with the 62-year-old at Zenit St Petersburg until he left the club last October to take on a dual role as AZ Alkmaar and Belgium coach.

Advocaat resigned as Belgium coach in April, and then announced he would leave AZ at the end of the season.

"Advocaat's agreement with (the] RFS is for four years and comes into force as soon as Guus Hiddink's deal expires," Fursenko said on uefa.com.

"Advocaat is a workaholic, I know that from my own experience. He knows Russian football in and out, every player in detail. He doesn't need anything explaining; he can start work right away.

"Dick understands his task is to qualify for the coming European Championship and to produce decent results there."

Advocaat has a lengthy resume which includes several clubs and national teams, including the Netherlands, South Korea, PSV Eindhoven, Rangers, Borussia Monchengladbach and the United Arab Emirates.

When Advocaat resigned as Belgium coach after just six months in the job Russian media reports suggested he would sign a long-term contract for a country where he enjoyed success at club level with Zenit. 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."

During his time in Russia, he won the league title, Uefa Cup, beating Rangers 2-0 in the 2008 final, as well as Russian and Uefa Super Cups.