The Russian Football Union confirmed on...

"I am in favor of Russian-born coaches, people who understand our way of thinking," Mutko said.

Despite his Euro 2008 success, Hiddink was criticized throughout the World Cup qualifying campaign for spending too little time in Russia and being out of touch with the domestic game.

He was for most of the first half of 2009 in a job-share with Roman Abramovich"s Chelsea and has been linked with several jobs since Russia"s defeat to Slovenia in November"s two-legged World Cup qualifier.

MOSCOW, February 13 (RIA Novosti)