Legendary Dutch coach Guus Hiddink has resigned as manager of Russian top-flight side Anzhi Makhachkala. The 66-year-old Dutchman will be replaced by former Manchester United first-team coach Rene Meulensteen. "I've always said that my mission with Anzhi would end when the club was able to develop and grow by itself without my participation," Hiddink said.
Hiddink is one of the most respected managers in Europe after leading Chelsea to a 2009 FA Cup win. He decided to join moneybag-club Anzhi in February 2012, two years after ending his stint as Russia national coach. The club finished third in the Russian Premier League last season, 11 points behind champions CSKA Moscow, and missed out on Champions League football this season.
Hiddink decided to leave the club after just two games of the current season, as the team managed to grab just one point out of the possible six. A club statement said: "FC Anzhi has accepted the request of the head coach to terminate their employment relationship. The club sincerely thanks Guus Hiddink for his significant contribution to the club and wishes him success in his future career."
Rene Meulensteen left Manchester United and joined Anzi last month, working as an assistant to Hiddink after turning down an offer by new manager David Moyes to coach United's under-21 development squad. Meulensteen had previously worked with the first team under former manager Sir Alex Ferguson, winning the Premier League four times, the League Cup twice and the Champions League once.
Despite the poor start Anzhi are still among the favourites to win the Russian Premier League this season, here are the outright odds for the season at Bet365:
CSKA Moscow - 9/4
Zenit St Petersburg - 12/5
Anzhi - 9/2
Spartak Moscow - 5/1
Rubin Kazan - 12/1
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