Dutch soccer legend arrives in Grozny
GROZNY – Dutch soccer legend Ruud Gullit landed in the Chechen capital today to take over his new post as coach of the Terek Grozny soccer team, Radio Liberty reported.
Hundreds of supporters cheered Gullit at the airport and performed traditional Caucasian dances around the former two-time world player of the year.
Gullit, 48, was due to meet Chechnya's strongman leader, Ramzan Kadyrov -- who reportedly convinced Gullit personally to come to Chechnya.
Terek Grozny was formed in 1958 but then simply vanished when war came to Chechnya in the 1990s and did not play again until 2001.
Grozny's persistent security worries left many observers shocked by Gullit's move.
The Chechen capital was reportedly rocked by four small explosions late on February 8 and early today that injured several Russian servicemen.
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