Guus Hiddink will leave his post as trainer...
The long-expected news came as a footnote in his weekly column for the Dutch newspaper, and follows discussions with the new president of the Russian Football Union (RFU), Sergei Fursenko, in Moscow on February 4.
"Finally, a word about my future as coach of the Russian national soccer team," Hiddink wrote at the end of his column. "After a very pleasant conversation with the new [RFU] president, it was decided that we will part ways after the expiration of my contract on June 30."
Hiddink said the decision had been made now to give the RFU time to appoint a successor before qualifying begins for the Euro 2014 tournament in Ukraine and Poland.
The Dutchman has been credited with performing wonders with the Russia team, guiding them to Euro 2008 after being drawn with Croatia, England and Israel, and then wowing the crowds with an attacking style of football that took the Russians to the semifinals, where they lost to eventual champions Spain.