Russia coach Dick Advocaat reportedly will not extend his contract and will quit after the European Championship.
''After the European Championship, I'll go,'' Advocaat was quoted as saying in the Sprot-Express newspaper on Monday. ''I can't tell you the reason yet, but knowing about all the speculation, I'll say right now, it's not about the money.''
Advocaat signed a two-year contract in April 2010 with an option for two more years and the primary goal of qualifying for Euro 2012, which runs June 8-July 1 in Poland and Ukraine.
Advocaat succeeded fellow Dutchman Guus Hiddink, who led Russia to the semifinals of Euro 2008 but failed to qualify for the World Cup.
In two years under Advocaat, Russia won 10 matches, drew five and lost three.
The team won Group B in qualifying for this summer's tournament and will open against the Czech Republic in Group A on June 8. Poland and Greece are also in the group.
''I haven't told the players yet. I'm sure that this news won't influence our preparation for the Euros,'' Advocaat said.
Russia is scheduled to face Uruguay, Latvia and Italy in tuneup matches before heading to Wroclaw, Poland, for its Euro 2012 opener.
Advocaat took Netherlands to the 1994 World Cup quarterfinals and Euro 2004 semis.
He is the first foreign coach to win a title in Russia - coaching Zenit St. Petersburg to the Russian league title in 2007 and the UEFA Cup championship the next season.
No comments:
Post a Comment