Hiddink to take over as Turkey coach

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ISTANBUL, Feb 17, 2010 (AFP) - Much-travelled Guus Hiddink is on the move again, taking over as head coach of Turkey as they gear up for the Euro 2012 qualifying campaign.

The Turkish Football Federation on its website Wednesday announced that the 63-year-old Dutchman had agreed on a two-year contract, with an option for a further two years.

He will take over in August, a month after the end of his current contract as head coach of Russia.

Hiddink has previously been in charge of the national teams of his native Netherlands, South Korea and Australia before taking over as manager of Russia. He led the Netherlands to the World Cup semi-finals in 1998 and South Korea to the same stage four years later,

He took Russia to the semi-finals of Euro 2008, but failed to qualify them for the 2010 World Cup losing out to Slovenia in the play-offs. Hiddink doubled up then as coach at Chelsea, the London club he guided to victory in the FA Cup.

Hiddink was linked to several coaching positions at national and club level before deciding to move to Turkey. He has previous experience of management in that country, having been in charge of Istanbul club side Fenerbahce in the 1990/91 season.