MOSCOW: Former England manager Fabio Capello and ex-Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola are among 13 high-profile candidates for the job of Russia coach, the Russian Football Union (RFU) said yesterday.
The list also includes former Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp, ex-Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez, former Italy coach Marcello Lippi and Argentine Marcelo Bielsa.
“The (RFU) officially would like to inform that it plans to hold talks with these specialists about one of them becoming the head coach of the Russian national team,” the union said in a short statement on its website (www.rfs.ru).
Phil Smith, Redknapp’s agent, said his client was open to negotiations.
“Absolutely,” Smith was quoted as saying by Russian media when asked if Redknapp, sacked by the Spurs last month, would be interested in taking the job.
“Would Harry have a problem coming to Russia? No. He’s ready to go and live in any country, especially as big as Russia. I think such offer would definitely interest him if it came, but so far, we haven’t heard anything about it.”
One name conspicuous by its absence was Manchester City’s Italian manager Roberto Mancini who agreed a new five-year contract with the English Premier League champions on Monday.
On Monday, Russian media, quoting RFU and Sports Ministry sources, said Mancini had agreed a four-year deal to become Russia’s new coach after officials found a “signed contract” in the safe of former RFU chief Sergei Fursenko.
Fursenko, a close friend of Russian President Vladimir Putin, quit his post last month.
