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MOSCOW, Aug 2 (Reuters) Guus Hiddink has not even started work as Russia soccer manager yet he has already become the darling of local fans and media.

During a four-day visit to Russia last month, Hiddink was followed by a horde of reporters, photographers and television camera crews, and mobbed by well-wishers and autograph seekers.

While the Russian public have quickly fallen in love with the charismatic Dutchman, who will be the country's first foreign manager, some of his fellow coaches from Russia's old guard have given him the cold shoulder.

Former Russia manager Valery Gazzayev was one of the most staunch opponents of Hiddink's appointment, saying a foreigner could never understand the secret of the Russian soul.

''I strongly believe that being just a good coach is not enough to lead our national team,'' said Gazzayev. ''You must be a real patriot, thoroughly understand our national identity, character and traditions, and for that you must be born here.'' Gazzayev, who last year became the first Russian coach to lift a European club trophy when CSKA Moscow won the UEFA Cup, has queried Hiddink's standing.

''This year I was invited to attend an elite coaching course by UEFA but I didn't see Hiddink there,'' Gazzayev said recently.

Another former Russia manager, Oleg Romantsev, also criticised the hiring of the Dutchman, saying the Hiddink-led Australia used primitive tactics at the World Cup.

Local media mocked such comments, pointing to Romantsev's own record as Russia manager.

OUTDATED TACTICS Romantsev coached Russia at the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea, where they failed to progress from one of the easiest first-round groups. The team were dubbed 'Jurassic' for using outdated tactics while the manager was criticised for selecting an ageing squad and adopting an overly cautious approach.

Gazzayev succeeded Romantsev following the 2002 fiasco but fared no better. He lost to Georgia, Albania and Israel, prompting him to quit in August 2003.

Other Russian coaches, including ex-national team managers Yuri Syomin and Anatoly Byshovets, questioned Hiddink's ability to communicate with the players.

''Obviously, Hiddink will have a language problem, so I don't know how effective his coaching would be,'' said Syomin, who quit as Russia manager last November after failing to guide them to the World Cup finals.

A high-ranking Russian soccer official said privately that most of Hiddink's opponents were simply jealous of his success.

''I just can't see any reason other than that,'' the official, who did not want to be identified, told Reuters.

Officials in the Russian FA feared that club managers would refuse to co-operate and to give Hiddink information on the national team players.

After some intense lobbying by Russian soccer chief Vitaly Mutko, who was responsible for luring Hiddink to Russia, Gazzayev was forced to softened his stance.

He even briefly met the Dutchman following last month's CSKA league match at Zenit St Petersburg, saying afterwards: ''I told Hiddink that I respect him as coach but I'm still opposed to the idea of hiring foreigners for our national team.'' HUGE SALARY Hiddink's huge salary, paid in part by Chelsea's billionaire owner Roman Abramovich, has also irked Russian coaches.

According to media reports, Hiddink will earn close to $3 million per year. Bonuses could put that figure even higher.

Mutko says the Dutchman will be worth every penny.

Hiddink has achieved success at club and international level, winning titles with PSV Eindhoven and Real Madrid and leading the Netherlands and South Korea to the World Cup semi-finals. He also guided relative newcomers Australia to the second round of this year's finals in Germany.

At least he will have no language barrier when talking to compatriot Dick Advocaat, who was named Zenit coach in late June after stepping down as manager of South Korea following their elimination from the World Cup finals.

Advocaat has nothing but praise for his fellow Dutchman.

''Guus Hiddink is a world-class coach and I think you should be very happy to have him here,'' Advocaat told Russian media.

Russia's players also expressed confidence in Hiddink.

''I think Hiddink will bring a winning mentality to our national team,'' said Russia captain Alexei Smertin.

Yegor Titov, Spartak Moscow captain and one of Russia's most influential players, added: ''It's been a long time since we achieved anything worthwhile.

''We're all starving for success and if Hiddink holds the key to our future, than it doesn't really matter if he is Dutch, French or Italian. He is our coach.'' Hiddink will make his debut as manager in a friendly against Latvia on Aug. 16 before the Russians begin their Euro 2008 qualifying campaign by facing Croatia on Sept. 6.

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