Hiddink accepts Anzhi challenge

Guus Hiddink has taken charge of Russian Premier League side FC Anzhi Makhachkala, with the 65-year-old coach committing to the club until summer 2013.

Anzhi parted company with Yuri Krasnozhan by mutual consent at the start of the week and have moved quickly to bring in Hiddink as his replacement. "I am happy to have the chance," said Hiddink. "The club have serious plans for football development in the Dagestan region and that is at least as important as the results of the first team. I am going to pay special attention to these matters, as discussed with [club owner] Suleiman Kerimov. I will try my best to bring Anzhi's performances into line with the club's ambitions."

Hiddink has previously coached De Graafschap, PSV Eindhoven, Fenerbahçe SK, Valencia CF, Real Madrid CF, Real Betis Balompié and Chelsea FC, as well as the Dutch, South Korean, Australian, Russian and Turkish national teams. He is the fourth coach to occupy the Anzhi helm in the last six months, following Gadzhi Gadzhiev, Andrei Gordeev and Krasnozhan. Anzhi sit seventh in the Russian table, 13 points adrift of leaders FC Zenit St Petersburg.