Russian national coach Guus Hiddink will...

Hiddink, who is due to take over Turkey in August after his contract with Russia runs out, said he did not want to miss his new side"s next three friendlies.

Turkey play Ireland, the Czech Republic and the U.S. at the end of May.

"If I had signed up with the Ivory Coast, then I would have missed these games, and to be frank I don"t think that something I should do," Hiddink wrote in the De Telegraaf.

Hiddink, who led Russia to the last four at Euro 2008, failed to get the side through a World Cup playoff with Slovenia in November.

MOSCOW, March 13 (RIA Novosti)