Former Russia national team coach Valery Gazzaev on Monday signed a contract to take over Ukrainian football champions Dynamo Kyiv next season, according to DPA, referring  to a Channel 5 television news report. Gazzaev`s led CSKA Moscow to a 2005 UEFA Cup victory during a - briefly interrupted - reign there 2001-2008. He was Russia coach 2002-2003.

Dynamo Kyiv officials had no immediate comment on news of Gazzaev`s reported hiring.

Reports Gazzaev was on a short list to take over Dynamo had been circulating in Russian and Ukrainian sports media for more than a month.

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Dynamo`s outgoing coach, Yuri Semin, reportedly was leaving Dynamo to take charge at Lok Moscow.

Semin`s performance at Dynamo over two years were mixed, with a runner-up finish in the Ukraine league in 2008 and the title in the 2009 season which ends on the weekend.

In Europe, Dynamo went out in Champions` League qualifying last season but reached the UEFA Cup semi-finals this time around.

There they were knocked out by Dynamo`s top rival Shakhtar Donetsk, who also beat them in the Ukraine Cup. Shakhtar won the UEFA Cup last week.

Dynamo President Ihor Surkis called the doublen failures against Donetsk "unfortunate" and "painful", but in comments last week said he had no decision to sack Semin.

DPA via Earth Times