Guus Hiddink is set to take over as Barcelona manager after resigning his post at Anzhi Makhachkhala.
The Russian side announced that the former Chelsea and Holland manager had stepped down on Monday afternoon with immediate effect.
Betting on Hiddink to take over from Tito Vilanova at the Nou Camp was suspended by several bookmakers shortly after the announcement.
In a statement on Anzhi’s website Hiddink, who signed a one-year contract extension as recently as June, said: ‘This decision was not easy to me, but I’ve always said that my mission may end when the club will be able to develop and grow on itself, without my participation.
‘Now it’s time has come. I am convinced that the club has a great future, and I’m glad I was part of this large-scale project of football.’
Vilanova resigned as Barca boss last week after just a year in charge to concentrate on his long-running battle against cancer.
Hiddink, 66, has one of the most decorated CVs in European football having managed at the highest level across the continent since 1987.
He led Chelsea to the FA Cup trophy in 2009 while in temporary charge and had a season at Barca’s arch-rivals Real Madrid in 1998-99.
Hiddink’s resignation comes just two days after he pushed an official in a league game, which could have meant being handed a six-game ban from the Russian FA.
Former Manchester United first-team coach Rene Meulensteen has taken over as temporary coach of Anzhi.
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