Guus Hiddink has been named the new manager of Turkey, tasked with taking them to the 2012 European Championship finals.

They are in Group A of qualifying, where they will take on Germany, Austria, Belgium, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan. They would expect to qualify, although matches against Germany are always tasty due to the amount of Turkish immigrants in the central European country.

Hiddink, 63, recently announced he would leave his position as Russia coach, having failed to lead them to this summer’s World Cup finals. They were beaten by Slovenia in a qualifying play-off.

The Dutchman had been widely expected to return to club management, and would have had plenty of suitors.

Former Turkey players Oguz Cetin and Engin Ipekoglu will be among his backroom staff.

It is his fifth spell in charge of a national side, following Holland, South Korea, Australia and Russia.