Belgium opt for Advocaat

Former Holland boss to leave Zenit in January

By Lucas Brown   Last updated: 1st July 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Belgium opt for Advocaat

Advocaat: To leave Zenit

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Belgium have announced that two-time Holland boss Dick Advocaat is to become their new manager.

The former Rangers boss will take charge on 1st January when his contract with current club Zenit St Petersburg expires.

Advocaat, who managed Holland between 1993 and 1995 before returning to the hot-seat in 2002 for another two-year spell, will replace Rene Vandereycken after he was sacked in April.

Former Tottenham and Real Madrid boss Juande Ramos is the ideal candidate to replace Advocaat, according to ex-Zenit player Aleksandr Kerzhakov.

Ramos praise

Ramos has been linked with the role at the Petrovsky Stadium and has been given a glowing reference by Kerzhakov, who played under the Spaniard at Sevilla.

"Ramos is a great coach and, from my point of view, ideal for Zenit," the Dynamo Moscow player told Sport Express.

"He has a human quality and easily discovers a common language with the players and has the capability to create a positive atmosphere within the squad.

"He also does not lack any professional qualities that are required and the number of trophies that he has won speaks for itself.

"The only objection that the club could have is that he does not speak Russian."