Advocaat sets Zenit departure date
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Article summary
The Belgian Football Association has announced that Dutchman Dick Advocaat will step down at FC Zenit St. Petersburg at the end of the year to take up the position as their national team coach.
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Article body
Dick Advocaat will step down at FC Zenit St. Petersburg at the end of the year to take up a position as Belgian national team coach.
Fine CV
The Belgian Football Association today issued a short statement confirming that the 61-year-old Dutchman will take the reins on 1 January but offered no further information. Until then Advocaat will focus on seeing out his contract at Zenit, with the Russian side currently seventh in the Premier-Liga after 12 games. The season ends in November. The former Netherlands, PSV Eindhoven, Rangers FC and Korean Republic boss guided Zenit to the Russian title in 2007, and UEFA Cup and UEFA Super Cup success the following year.
Vandereycken departure
Advocaat is the long-term replacement at the Belgium helm for René Vandereycken, who was sacked in April after back-to-back defeats by Bosnia-Herzegovina left them fourth in FIFA World Cup qualifying Group 5. Assistant Frank Vercauteren will keep the seat warm until January, overseeing the rest of the campaign as they seek a place in South Africa. Advocaat's focus will be securing a place at UEFA EURO 2012™.
