- MOSCOW: Chechen strongman Ramzan Kadyrov has given Terek Grozny coach Ruud Gullit an ultimatum to win Tuesday or lose his job as the club lashed out about his partying lifestyle.
Kadyrov is both the leader of the Russian republic and the president of football club Terek Grozny. In a long and scathing statement on the club's website, Terek criticized Gullit, saying the former World Player of the Year is distracted by “bars and discos.” “Terek has never looked so hopeless,” the club said.
The 48-year-old Gullit took over as coach in January on an 18-month contract. But after 12 games, Terek has only three wins and three draws to go along with six losses, leaving the club in 14th place in the 16-team league.
Kadyrov, who wields control over every aspect of life in the province, originally set Gullit the task of a top-eight finish, which would guarantee a playoff spot and a chance to enter European competition.
“The actions of Gullit over these six months show that he hasn't got a grasp on the players or the lineup. The side has no form of play, and there is no recognizable style,” the statement said. “Kadyrov is extremely dissatisfied with both the team's league position and the lack of endeavor in the head coach to put all his energy into normalizing the situation.” On Tuesday, Terek is to play at Amkar Perm, which leads the Grozny team on goal difference.
The club statement criticized Gullit both for his coaching and his attitude, complaining that the Dutchman went out on the town with his players after a recent break in the league for European Championship qualifying.
“Gullit ... arrives two days after the rest of the team, and then goes with the players to a night club,” the club said.
Terek said Gullit had ample opportunity to sign any players he saw fit to bolster the team, with money no object. The club also denied complaints it said Gullit made about the quality of the training infrastructure at the club, citing its newly built Akhmad Kadyrov Stadium, named after Kadyrov's father.
“What absence of infrastructure can Gullit be talking about when even the stars of world football - Maradona, Cafu, Dida, (Steve) McManaman, (Luis) Figo and others - marveled at the stadium,” the statement said.

