Dick Advocaat unexpectedly quit as Belgium coach on Thurdsay,
almost five months before the start of the 2012 European
Championship qualifying campaign for which the Dutchman was hired.
His resignation opens the way for the successful coach to
join Russia, another nation which failed to reach the World Cup
finals.
The Belgian federation said in a statement Thursday it was
taken aback by the decision and has to start its rebuilding
campaign from scratch. The federation said it would not comment
further until it had decided on what action to take. There was no
clear candidate to take over as Belgian head coach.
"It is sad to see him leave after only half a year," said
Arsenal defender Thomas Vermaelen.
"He could have put us on the right track and get results," he
told VRT network. "It is a shock."
"The Russian Football Union can't say anything about this
yet," spokesman Andrei Malosolov told the state news agency RIA
Novosti.
Belgium currently is 66th in the FIFA world rankings. Just
six years ago it was ranked 16th and Advocaat was hired to push
them high up the standings again.
In his five matches in charge, Advocaat won three and lost
two.
The core of players at his disposal included defenders Daniel
Van Buyten of Bayern Munich, Vincent Kompany of Manchester City and
Vermaelen of Arsenal. In midfield, Everton's Marouane Fellaini was
the key.
But almost from the start, the cooperation between Advocaat
and the Belgian federation was mired with problems.
Unexpectedly, he added the job of coaching AZ Alkmaar in
December. A few months later came rumors he was discussing the
Russia job, adding to the tension.
Yet despite the ominous signs, the federation still said it
was "surprised by the announcement" by Advocaat.
