Russian club Anzhi appoint Guus Hiddink as new head coach

The 65-year-old Dutchman, who has managed the likes of Chelsea and Real Madrid, has signed an 18-month contract with the club, following the sacking of Yuri Krasnozhan earlier this week after just over a month in the job.

"We discussed Anzhi for quite some time at the end of last year so now I took the decision quickly," Hiddink said in a statement on the club website (fc-anji.ru).

"I'm happy that I got this chance - to work not only in a football club but to work with friends who invited me here."

Anzhi are bankrolled by billionaire Suleiman Kerimov and have signed big-name players such as Cameroon striker Samuel Eto'o and Brazilian full back Roberto Carlos.

"I know of the ambitions of the shareholder, the club and the fans - the whole world knows about this now and I will try to do everything so that the team's performances correspond to those ambitions," the new manager said.

Hiddink, among a number of high-profile managers linked with the vacancy including former England boss Fabio Capello, said it was Anzhi's plans to develop the sport in the region of Dagestan where the club is based that had convinced him it was the right move to make.

"This is no less important than the sporting results of the main team and I plan to devote particular attention in this direction," he said.

"Suleiman Kerimov and I spoke about this. From the conversation I had with him I was once again convinced of the scale of the project they were inviting me into."