Advocaat is Russia coach

Troubleshooter

“Advocaat will arrive in Moscow on Tuesday and will be presented to our executive board,” Russian FA (RFU) president Sergei Fursenko told reporters following the body's board meeting in the southern city of Rostov.

“His task would be to lead our team to the finals of both Euro 2012 and the 2014 World Cup,” Fursenko added. “He's a real workaholic. He knows all our (top) players which is a big plus.” Last month, the 62-year-old Advocaat resigned as Belgium coach after just six months in the job and Russian media reports suggest he will sign a long-term contract for a country where he enjoyed success at club level with Zenit St Petersburg.

When he stepped down from the Belgium job, Advocaat was quoted in the Dutch media as saying: “Russian soccer is of a higher level than Belgian soccer. It matches the level I am used to working at.”

Fursenko was elected RFU chief in February and has known Advocaat since their days together in St Petersburg.  In his first full season the following year, Advocaat steered the club to their first national title in nearly a quarter of a century, becoming the first foreign coach to achieve the feat.