Turkey coach backed in for Chelsea return
Guus Hiddink has leapfrogged compatriot Marco van Basten ([6.4]) as favourite to succeed Carlo Ancelotti as Chelsea manager following widespread reports that he is Roman Abramovich's number one target.
The veteran tactician would be a popular choice with supporters after his successful interim stint at Stamford Bridge at the end of the 2008-09 season in which he ensured their qualification for the Champions League after Luis Felipe Scolari's disastrous spell and guided the club to the FA Cup.
The ex-Real Madrid and PSV coach is the [3.25] market leader despite the fact that he is currently in charge of the Turkish national team and has a reputation for honouring contracts, primarily as many believe that they won't mind letting him go if they fail to triumph in Belgium next week.
Andre Villas-Boas is next in line after the two Dutch legends at [8.6] to become Abramovich's second appointment from Porto and the Daily Mail place him on the Russian oligarch's four-man shortlist, where he is said to be joined by Hiddink, Jose Mourinho ([17.0]) and CSKA Moscow's Leonid Slutsky.
The leading candidate from inside the Premier League is Harry Redknapp at [8.8] and while he denied any knowledge of the Blues being interested in him, the Tottenham boss stopped short of ruling himself out of contention, though the west Londoners last hired a Brit in 1993 (Glenn Hoddle).
There are several intriguing outsiders, including Pep Guardiola ([15.5]) - on the basis that he may wish to move if he wins the Champions League again - Rafael Benitez ([28.0]) - who has got the best out of Fernando Torres before - and another prior winner of Europe's top trophy, Frank Rijkaard ([28.0]).
Is Hiddink the best man for the job? Have your say with a comment below...
Published: 24 May 2011
gary (May 24, 2011 9:16 AM) said:
We complain that Chelsea have had 7 managers in 8 years but forget that Chelsea is in a different position to most teams. Chelsea can afford to buy and pay off managers while other teams can’t. If other teams don’t have a genius like Ferguson, they have to settle for less or hope their average manager improves. Abramovich is not looking for someone average, he is after the best. His first choice, Mourinho, was the best, but a conflict arose. Since then he has been shopping. When he finds his genius, things will settle. Hiddink could be it.
Kenny (May 24, 2011 9:48 AM) said:
No Hiddink is not the right person but Frank Rijaard
osichuks (May 24, 2011 10:03 AM) said:
thinking of getting hiddink,is a right chioce for abrahamovic,hiddink has d quality of being a chelsea manager.apart from morinho the other manager we had were bunch of floop.so let give guuis the opportunity .
obayemi (May 24, 2011 10:57 AM) said:
Up gussss
Stellaella (May 24, 2011 11:13 AM) said:
I think d blues should go 4 who wil give dem wat d actual wnt nd dats mouriho.
Stellaella (May 24, 2011 11:17 AM) said:
If Abrahamovic could spend 50m for a player den he can afford a gud coach dat wil give d blues d champions league next season.
Samson (May 24, 2011 3:11 PM) said:
I wnt chelsea 2 stopping sacking coaches 4m their position bcos it always affect d club, fans, players, and the club officals.
Ozigidon from Nigeria (May 24, 2011 11:47 PM) said:
I want guus & boars in chelsea nxt season. I will also like chelsea to plz sell out the likes of, lampard, calou, malouda, ferera, bosigwa, anelka. Zirkov. These players have no business in the club they are just consuming weekly wages. Plz Roma sign theses players for me and for us here in Nigeria, Neymar, Aguero or Tevez, Lukaku & sanchez, snijder, de rossi, kaka, Nzobgia, van der wel. My number one signing here is Neymar. Plz lampard is gone, we need creativity in the midfield. So that torres wil be scoring. Plz i will really appreciate if i see them in stamford bridge nxt season. Cheers Roman
Ikharo Abdulrahman (May 25, 2011 10:26 AM) said:
my opinion is for the blues to go for guus Hiddick because is the perfeck coach that can bring chelsea back to feet just the way Jose Morinho did.and if not availuable for him to come,we then go for Frank Rachkard because is him that lay the rock of fc Barcelona that pep is enjoying now.moreover chelsea should do away with the likes of Anieka,Malouda,Lampard Bosingwa and kalou and recriute other talented players so that Fernando Torres can be functional nor active for the blues,But Drogba should stay in stamford bridge.