"The Europeans associate Grozny with completely different things. But it is another matter entirely of whether he can help them in football terms."

Gullit is expected to formally assume his duties on Sunday and appear on the touch-line for the first time when his team faces 2010 champions Zenit Saint Petersburg, which finished 35 points and 12 places above Grozny last season.

Observers said Gullit may come away slightly shell-shocked by the cultural difference between places like London and Hollywood and the slowly-rebuilding Grozny.

"But in reality, this team spends very little time in Grozny itself," Orekh said. "They like to travel."