Russian sources have claimed that Chelsea FC owner Roman Abramovich is willing to finance a bid to make Socceroos and PSV Eindhoven manager Guus Hiddink head coach of Russia.

Russia are looking for a successor to Yuri Semin, who quit his job as Russia head coach following their failure to qualify for the World Cup finals in Germany this summer, after coming third in Group 3 in the Europe Zone qualifiers behind Portugal and Slovakia, who managed to win the play-off spot on goal difference to the Russians.

The current coach of South Korea, Dutchman Dick Advocaat, has emerged as favourite to take the Russia coaching role, after reports of interest from the Russian Football Union, although he has already denied that he has agreed terms.

Now another Dutchman, current Australia and PSV Eindhoven coach Guus Hiddink has come into the fray as another potential candidate.

The Russian Football Union had appeared set to offer Dick Advocaat the coaching role, until the Russian Chelsea FC owner Roman Abramovich reportedly contacted the RFU, and recommended Hiddink for the role, while also saying that he would fund all of his wages.

Hiddink is taking Australia to this summer's World Cup Finals, and even though he is coaching the Socceroos, he has continued with his role at PSV Eindhoven, something he is likely to be keen on continuing, and could prove hard to tempt him into the role.

Now the Russians are believed to be thinking over their options, with the Hiddink option suddenly looking very appealing.

Abramovich has close ties to PSV Eindhoven, through their close working relationship with Chelsea, and it seems this is where his admiration of Hiddink has stemmed from.

The Russia Football Union is looking to name the country's new coach as soon as possible, and RFU president Vitaly Mutko, admits that it might be a problem that the leading candidates are both currently employed elsewhere.

“I had meetings with three famous European managers,” Mutko told Sport Express, “And two of them gave me an agreement.”

“I gave them film with our team games, but both managers said that we have good players already, especially the goalkeepers, and both our main strikers.

“They are ready to work, and it looks like we will sign a contract soon.”

“One problem is that we can't announce this information, because at the moment both managers are working with other teams, and have active contracts.”

So it seems that the RFU have already made their decision, and time will tell who they have chosen, but Abramovich has staked his intent, and has more than enough money to be able to offer Hiddink whatever he may choose as wages.

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