New soccer coach of the Netherlands Guus Hiddink speaks during the presentation of new staff of the Dutch national football team in Zeist August 1, 2014. REUTERS/Toussaint Kluiters/United Photos
AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - Guus Hiddink is to switch his role of Netherlands national team coach with that of a diplomat after being invited to accompany the Dutch king Willem-Alexander on a state visit to South Korea next month.
The Dutch were hoping Hiddink would help open doors and cement business relations, the De Telegraaf newspaper said on Friday. Hiddink enjoys hero status in South Korea after taking the country's national soccer team to the semi-finals of the 2002 World Cup, which they co-hosted with Japan.
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