Russia fall under wizard's spell

Even Guus Hiddink admitted he was astonished by the turn of events that led to Russia qualifying for UEFA EURO 2008™. Their Group E campaign looked to have ended in disappointment with the defeat in Israel, but Croatia's victory at Wembley four days later coupled with Russia's win in Andorra sent Hiddink's side through at England's expense.

It was the latest triumph of Hiddink's nomadic international career, during which his native Netherlands, Korea Republic and Australia have also benefited from his magic touch. And however his team fare at next summer's EURO, the man dubbed 'the wizard' in the Russian press has already left an indelible mark on the country's football landscape. uefa.com talked to key figures who have worked with the coach since his appointment in April 2006 to discover the secret of Hiddink's success.

1. Freedom
Captain Andrei Arshavin believes the freedom Hiddink gives his players off the field has been a key factor in creating a relaxed atmosphere. Where previous Russia coaches kept their charges under lock and key, far from Moscow's madding crowd, Hiddink is happy to let them come and go as they please. Hence reduced pressure before a big game. "Under Hiddink, there is much more freedom in the team and I mean the kind of freedom you get off the pitch," Arshavin told uefa.com. "In training, you must do as you're told, but outside the training ground no one controls us any more; no one imposes their requirements on us. It was different before."

2. Calm
Hiddink's calm, unflustered approach was also central to steadying the Russian ship at crucial moments of the qualifying campaign. Even when Russia trailed England 1-0 at half-time on 17 October, the Dutchman never lost his cool. "In contrast to many Russian coaches, Hiddink never panics and knows exactly what he wants," said FC Zenit St. Petersburg forward Arshavin, 26. "The best example was the England game. At half-time he was calm and businesslike. Guus said we would have the chance to turn the match around, as if he already knew."

3. Training methods
The players have said that training under Hiddink is more interesting and profitable than it was under many local coaches. According to Hiddink, training should be a pleasure not a pain – FC Dinamo Moskva midfielder Igor Semshov admires this attitude. "It's great we have a foreign coach with such authority," the Russian international told uefa.com. "I really admire his approach. I like the training, the way he speaks to players. All these things have gone down well with us. Even the theory is practice with Hiddink, as we do it on the training pitch."

4. Trust in youth
Semshov, 29, thinks it is the trust that Hiddink places in youth which has precipitated such progress. "We have a European mentality around the national team now, built on trust. The coach trusts the players, he selects youngsters at every opportunity and bravely uses them in games. He is not afraid of responsibility. For the younger players, the experience of working with Hiddink is particularly useful, especially if they want to play in Europe. The coach is showing us what the top clubs demand."

5. Psychology
One such youngster, 22-year-old FC Lokomotiv Moskva captain Diniyar Bilyaletdinov, is especially excited by the mental strength Hiddink instils in his players. "The main thing he has brought is a psychological approach. When I used to walk out there for the national team, I was terribly nervous. I was always on edge. Hiddink, with his rules, has changed the atmosphere and now there is no more pressure on the players. I don't know about anyone else, but I just go out and play my game, confident in my ability."

6. Independence
Nor is it any secret that previous Russia coaches have been influenced by club loyalties or public opinion. According to FC Moskva coach Leonid Slutskiy, Hiddink's independence is essential. "Hiddink's main advantage, other than his great ability as a coach, is his complete independence in decision-making. The fact he doesn't know Russian means he doesn't pay attention to the media. He is also quite independent from his employers. He does what he thinks necessary, regardless of the opinions of others. It's good that he trusts youngsters and looks for players who fit his model. There is a reason behind everything he does, and this brings results."

7. Development
With the Football Union of Russia seeking stability, the importance of the Hiddink project was emphasised by the announcement, before the England victory, that the two parties had agreed a contract extension until 2010. FA president Vitali Mutko told uefa.com: "We chose the path of development and will not turn away from it. I want the team to be stable, which is why even before the England match we decided to prolong the contract and announced that we had. It was not dependent on the result. I would like Hiddink to be even more involved in everything to do with developing Russian football." A football nation that has consistently underachieved is looking forward with confidence.