Hiddink to quit coaching at season’s end

FC Anzhi Makhachkala’s head coach Guus Hiddink. ( AFP-Yonhap News)

THE HAGUE (AFP) ― Dutch football coach Guus Hiddink will bring the curtain down on an illustrious, globetrotting, coaching career at the end of the current season, the Anzhi Makhachkala handler told Dutch TV on Tuesday.

Hiddink has led both the Netherlands and South Korea to the World Cup semifinals, took Russia to a European Championships semifinal, and won the European Cup (now the Champions League) with Dutch club PSV Eindhoven.

“I’ve still got the energy and still get a real buzz each time I step out onto a pitch, but I have to be careful not to stay on too long,” said Hiddink, whose contract runs out with Anzhi in mid-2013.

“I still find football so wonderful that I’ll likely stay in the milieu,” he added, suggesting he could train young coaches or young players.

The 66-year-old, who has coached Real Madrid and Chelsea, did admit that a run at the Champions League with Anzhi next season could tempt him to stay on a year longer.

The Dagestan club, who have Samuel Eto’o in attack, are currently second in the Russian league after 17 games.