HIDDINK Guus

Nationality:  Netherlands
Birth Date:   8 November 1946

Profile:
When Guus Hiddink took over at the helm of Korea's national team in January 2001, it raised a few eyebrows. The Dutchman, so much associated with attractive football and handling big-name stars, had opted to leave Europe's footballing playground to go back to basics teaching Asian footballers tactical awareness and killer instinct. But the challenge of leading a host nation into the World Cup finals, rather than put him off, proved much too tempting.

After an undistinguished playing career which began and ended with Dutch club De Graafschap (and included a year at PSV Eindhoven and two years in the United States), Hiddink began his coaching career along the very same path. He struck success at PSV winning three championships between 1985 and 1990 and the club's only European Cup in 1988.

Hiddink's style lent itself to attractive, open football and he was soon packing his bags and coaching away from the Netherlands, first at Fenerbache in Turkey and then for a two-year spell from 1991-93 at Valencia in Spain. It was there that he became good friends with Johan Cruyff, who was coaching at Barcelona at the time, and to whom his method most closely resembled.

He made more admirers in the country after ordering the removal of a racist banner at the Mestalla stadium. It won the immediate respect of the Spanish public and spoke volumes of the man.

After his first stint in Spain, Hiddink took over the Dutch national team demonstrating his tough personality during the Euro 96 championship in England when he sent star midfielder Edgar Davids home following a player bust up.

Hiddink's brand of football with out-and-out wingers was once again in evidence at the 1998 FIFA World Cup France[tm], where only a penalty shoot-out loss to Brazil prevented Holland from gaining a place in the final. Coincidentally, on route the Netherlands crushed Korea 5-0.

He returned to Spain first with Real Madrid, where he unsuccessfully requested the signing of Davids, and then with Betis before deciding to return to international coaching.

With such a pedigree much was expected of the big Dutchman in Korea. However his first year was littered with mediocre performances such as the 2-1 loss against the U.S. team in the Gold Cup in January.

Although the Korean press is far from being the most to critical, many considered that Hiddink was not taking the job seriously, being continually pictured with his girlfriend even before matches.

However as the smell of the upcoming finals wafted across Asia, Hiddink began to rise to his task. In a succession of warm-up matches Korea have fared well against mainly European opposition beating Finland 2-1 and drawing against Tunisia. The Dutchman has developed a more tactical approach to defending with a flat back-line, focused on improving the basic physical strength of players through a rigorous training programme and used his vast knowledge of international players to form counter systems.

As the nation's first foreign coach, Hiddink bears a great deal of responsibility to ensure Koreans do not lose face as they co-host the tournament to the world. Up against the United States, Poland and Portugal, a place in the last 16 would be a major success but a win almost a necessity for a nation suddenly football mad. The pressure is on. But if there is one man big enough to handle it, then that man is surely Guus Hiddink.

Team / Club History

Organisation	Country	Type	Dates
De Graafschap	Netherlands	Club	June 1982 - May 1984
PSV Eindhoven	Netherlands	Club	June 1986 - May 1990
Fenerbahce	Turkey	Club	June 1990 - May 1991
Valencia	Spain	Club	June 1991 - May 1993
Netherlands	Netherlands	Nat. Team	January 1995 - July 1998
Real Madrid	Spain	Club	June 1998 - May 1999
Real Betis	Spain	Club	June 2000 - December 2000