Guus Hiddink will decide on his future with the Russian national side before the end of the year, Russia's sports minister said on Tuesday.
Despite failing to take Russia to the 2010 World Cup, Dutch trainer Hiddink has been offered a contract to lead the side's Euro 2012 challenge.
"We agreed with Guus that he would decide as soon as possible. We agreed to meet again before the end of the year and come to a decision," Vitaly Mutko, who stepped down as head of Russian football's governing body on Tuesday, said.
Mutko also apologized to the "millions of Russian fans" for the side's failure to make the World Cup.
"We lost an honest battle," he said of the playoff defeat to Slovenia. "They were stronger and more determined than us."
Hiddink has been linked with the position of technical director at Chelsea since last week's defeat. Media reports have also said he could take charge of the Nigerian side at the World Cup, but Hiddink has since ruled out going to the finals as coach of another side "out of respect for the Russian players."
MOSCOW, November 24 (RIA Novosti)
