The Russian soccer federation hired Dick Advocaat as new coach of
the national team on Monday.
Fursenko said that Advocaat will be on a four-year contract
with the main task to qualify Russia for the finals of the European
championships in 2012 and the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
"He knows Russian soccer perfectly, knows all the players and
there's nothing to be explained to him," Fursenko said.
He replaces fellow Dutchman Guus Hiddink, who guided Russia
to the 2008 European championship but failed to qualify for this
year's World Cup.
"Dick Advocaat is good because he is a hardworking man,"
Fursenko said. "I know it from my own experience."
Fursenko was president of Zenit in 2006 when he invited
Advocaat to coach the club.
Fursenko said there were several more candidates for the job,
but refused to name them.
He also refused to disclose financial details of the contract
but said that "the amount of Advocaat's salary will be lower than
Hiddink's."
