Guus Hiddink has agreed to a two-year contract as coach of the
Turkish national team.
The Dutchman's contract as Russia coach ends on June 30 and
he will sign a contract committing him to Turkey until August 2012
with an option for a further two years.
The Turkish Football Federation announced the deal Wednesday
for Hiddink, who has also previously coached South Korea, Australia
and Russia.
He guided Russia to the semifinals of the 2008 European
Championship but the team failed to qualify for this year's World
Cup.
Hiddink also coached Istanbul side Fenerbahce during the
1990-91 season.
"Guus is not new to Turkey," Hiddink's agent Cees van
Nieuwenhuizen told de Volkskrant newspaper. "He will surely know
where to begin."
"The passion and experience in football in Turkey is
comparable to only a few countries."
Hiddink won the 1988 European Cup as coach of PSV Eindhoven.
He replaces Fatih Terim, who quit after Turkey failed to reach the
World Cup. Terim had been coach since 2005, taking the team to the
Euro 2008 semifinals.
