Guus plots Spanish fall

A man walks past a giant advertising billboard showing Dutchman Guus Hiddink, the coach of the Russian national football team, in central Moscow on Wednesday.Photo: AFP

Russia coach Guus Hiddink has already dashed Spanish hopes of World Cup glory in 2002 as South Korea coach and now he is plotting their downfall here at Euro 2008 - several years after three unhappy spells as a club coach there.
The 61-year-old Dutchman has enjoyed success at club level - winning the 1988 European Cup with PSV Eindhoven - but he was unable to repeat that in Spain despite three bites at the cherry.
And it is not as if he has had mediocre clubs as he has been in charge of Valencia (1991-1993), Real Madrid (1998-February 1999) and Real Betis (February-May 2000).
Valencia was probably his happiest time in Spain as twice he guided them to fourth in the championship, but he also experienced one of his heaviest ever defeats in the first round of the UEFA Cup in the 1992-93 campaign.
Indeed humiliation would be a better term for it, walloped 5-1 at home, with Uruguayan striker Daniel Fonseca scoring all five, and then losing 1-0 away.
In between his time with Valencia and Real he took charge of the Dutch national side and managed to escape the sack despite a desperate Euro '96 which saw the fiery Edgar Davids storm out alleging racial discord, and the federation's faith was repaid two years later as he took the 'Oranje' to within a penalty shootout of the World Cup final.
It was on that basis that Real signed him up but a club notorious for its fickleness with coaches gave him his red card after just 23 matches when Real - who he did guide to the world club championship - were horror of horrors seven points adrift of bitter rivals Barcelona.
Hiddink is never one to brook an argument with and the suspicion is that he is more at ease with players without an ego than those who earn multi millions.
"To select a team is a painful decision for players who have an ego," Hiddink said shortly before he was shown the door by Real.
"If they climb into their Porsche without having touched the ball, they spend a very bad afternoon. The stars rarely are able to come down from the sky and integrate properly in the squad."
With a straight-talking attitude like that he was not going to last long at a club like Real but it was more of a surprise that he only went 13 matches with Real Betis, who are more patient as their expectations are lower.
However, even their patience was tested to the limit as he recorded just one win in 13 matches and was on the dole just three months later.
Hiddink, though, was to rid himself of any frustration or bitterness he may have had in his system at the 2002 World Cup as he and his South Korean team ended Spain's dreams in a penalty shootout in the quarterfinals - revenge is a dish best tasted cold? For Hiddink Thursday's match can bring him one of the hottest tickets in football.