The decline of a great is often a sad sight. His powers desert him as his achievements grow ever more distant.
Yet his track record means believers remain. They wonder if he can rewind the clock, even if only temporarily, and revisit a glorious past.
The Netherlands and Turkey meet on Satuday, contesting precious points in Group A and sharing evidence that Guus Hiddink is not the manager he once was.
The Dutchman, 68, was for awhile perhaps the best coach in international football, a serial semi-finalist who overachieved wherever he went. Recently, however, he has underperformed.
Russia failed to qualify for the 2010 World Cup. Turkey failed to qualify for Euro 2012. There is a risk the Netherlands will fail to qualify for Euro 2016.
Hiddink inherited a team who finished third in the World Cup under Louis van Gaal and promptly lost four of his first five games in charge. He promised to resign if his side were beaten by Latvia in November.
They won 6-0, but the reality of Hiddink's reign is that his only victories are over Kazakhstan and Latvia, two sides the Dutch ought to defeat at home.
Italy and Mexico have won friendlies against them, the Czech Republic and Iceland beat them in group games.
The trend suggests Turkey, despite their troubles under Fatih Terim, another manager whose best days seem behind him, could continue Hiddink’s problems.
Even at this early stage, it looks pivotal: defeat could all but end the Turks’ chance of a play-off place, let alone a top-two finish.
For both, it seems a must-win match.
If Hiddink is a flagging manager, he may have a fading team. Of the generation who took the Netherlands to the 2010 World Cup final and the 2014 semi-finals, only Arjen Robben remains at his peak, and he is injured. So, too, is Robin van Persie, who has been less potent of late for Manchester United.
“You don’t need a degree in maths to know that their absence is a bit of a blow,” stand-in captain Wesley Sneijder told De Telegraaf this week.
As he has conceded, the playmaker is nothing like the force he was in 2010, and Rafael van der Vaart’s decline is so pronounced that he is not even in the squad.
Perhaps luck has deserted Hiddink. Ron Vlaar, the cornerstone of Van Gaal’s defence, is another of those sidelined. Kevin Strootman, the man around whom the Manchester United manager hoped to build a midfield, is yet to make an appearance under Hiddink. He has been stuck on 25 caps for a year.
It puts an onus on Sneijder, who plies his trade in Turkey with Galatasaray and who is set to equal Frank de Boer’s national record of 112 caps by an outfield player, as well as Van Persie’s eternal understudy, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar.
The Dutch have a squad with veterans and youngsters but comparatively few at their peak. Bas Dost, Wolfsburg's scoring star, is an exception. He began 2015 with 14 goals in nine games and is uncapped.
Whereas Hiddink is in his 14th job in a 28-year managerial career. The old-timer’s fate may rest with a rookie.
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Essentials
The flights
Emirates, Etihad and Malaysia Airlines all fly direct from the UAE to Kuala Lumpur and on to Penang from about Dh2,300 return, including taxes.
Where to stay
In Kuala Lumpur, Element is a recently opened, futuristic hotel high up in a Norman Foster-designed skyscraper. Rooms cost from Dh400 per night, including taxes. Hotel Stripes, also in KL, is a great value design hotel, with an infinity rooftop pool. Rooms cost from Dh310, including taxes.
In Penang, Ren i Tang is a boutique b&b in what was once an ancient Chinese Medicine Hall in the centre of Little India. Rooms cost from Dh220, including taxes.
23 Love Lane in Penang is a luxury boutique heritage hotel in a converted mansion, with private tropical gardens. Rooms cost from Dh400, including taxes.
In Langkawi, Temple Tree is a unique architectural villa hotel consisting of antique houses from all across Malaysia. Rooms cost from Dh350, including taxes.
Company%20profile
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Company%20Profile
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Jigra
Starring: Alia Bhatt, Vedang Raina, Manoj Pahwa, Harsh Singh
Moon Music
Artist: Coldplay
Label: Parlophone/Atlantic
Number of tracks: 10
Rating: 3/5
China and the UAE agree comprehensive strategic partnership
China and the UAE forged even closer links between the two countries during the landmark state visit after finalising a ten-point agreement on a range of issues, from international affairs to the economy and trade and renewable energy.
1. Politics: The two countries agreed to support each other on issues of security and to work together on regional and international challenges. The nations also confirmed that the number of high-level state visits between China and the UAE will increase.
2. Economy: The UAE offers its full support to China's Belt and Road Initiative, which will combine a land 'economic belt" and a "maritime silk road" that will link China with the Arabian Gulf as well as Southeast, South and Central China, North Africa and, eventually, Europe.
3. Business and innovation: The two nations are committed to exploring new partnerships in sectors such as Artificial Intelligence, energy, the aviation and transport industries and have vowed to build economic co-operation through the UAE-China Business Committee.
4. Education, science and technology: The Partnership Programme between Arab countries in Science and Technology will encourage young Emirati scientists to conduct research in China, while the nations will work together on the peaceful use of nuclear energy, renewable energy and space projects.
5. Renewable energy and water: The two countries will partner to develop renewable energy schemes and work to reduce climate change. The nations have also reiterated their support for the Abu Dhabi-based International Renewable Energy Agency.
6. Oil and gas: The UAE and China will work in partnership in the crude oil trade and the exploration and development of oil and natural gas resources.
7. Military and law enforcement and security fields: Joint training will take place between the Chinese and UAE armed forces, while the two nations will step up efforts to combat terrorism and organised crime.
8. Culture and humanitarian issues: Joint cultural projects will be developed and partnerships will be cultivated on the preservation of heritage, contemporary art and tourism.
9. Movement between countries: China and the UAE made clear their intent to encourage travel between the countries through a wide-ranging visa waiver agreement.
10. Implementing the strategic partnership: The Intergovernmental Co-operation Committee, established last year, will be used to ensure the objectives of the partnership are implemented.
The specs
Engine: Long-range single or dual motor with 200kW or 400kW battery
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Max touring range: 620km / 590km
Price: From Dh250,000 (estimated)
The story in numbers
18
This is how many recognised sects Lebanon is home to, along with about four million citizens
450,000
More than this many Palestinian refugees are registered with UNRWA in Lebanon, with about 45 per cent of them living in the country’s 12 refugee camps
1.5 million
There are just under 1 million Syrian refugees registered with the UN, although the government puts the figure upwards of 1.5m
73
The percentage of stateless people in Lebanon, who are not of Palestinian origin, born to a Lebanese mother, according to a 2012-2013 study by human rights organisation Frontiers Ruwad Association
18,000
The number of marriages recorded between Lebanese women and foreigners between the years 1995 and 2008, according to a 2009 study backed by the UN Development Programme
77,400
The number of people believed to be affected by the current nationality law, according to the 2009 UN study
4,926
This is how many Lebanese-Palestinian households there were in Lebanon in 2016, according to a census by the Lebanese-Palestinian dialogue committee
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded