Guus Hiddink quits Anzhi Makhachkala, rumoured to take over at Barcelona

66-year-old Dutch coach Guus Hiddink has left ambitious Russian Premier League side Anzhi Makhachkala after one-and-a-half year in-charge of the Dagestan club with the club appointing former Manchester United first team coach René Meulensteen as the new head coach.

René Meulensteen had joined Anzhi has an assistant to coach Guus Hiddink, but now the travelled Hiddink leaves Anzhi with speculations suggesting that he could be the new coach of FC Barcelona, who have to replace cancer affected Tito Vilanova.

The club Anzhi Makhachkala said through a statement, “Anzhi FC has taken the decision to accept the request of the head coach and end their employment relations. The club sincerely thanks Guus Hiddink for his significant contribution to the club’s development and wishes him success in his future career.”

Meanwhile Guus Hiddink said, “This decision was not easy for me, but I’ve always said that my mission at Anzhi could end when the club is able to develop and continue to grow by itself, without my participation. Now that time has come. I am convinced that a great future awaits the club and I am happy that I was a part of this vast football project.”

Now it will be interesting to see whether or not Hiddink is appointed as FC Barcelona coach anytime soon.