Hiddink expected to join Chelsea soon
June 4th, 2011 - 1:57 pm ICT by IANSLondon, June 4 (IANS) Dutchman Guus Hiddink is expected to take over Chelsea and provide the English premier league club with some much-needed stability.
Chealsea have been forced to wait till Friday’s Euro 2012 qualifier, which Turkey drew 1-1 in Belgium. They will now offer a compensation package to the Turkish Football Federation to extricate the 64-year-old from the final year of his contract in Istanbul.
The Guardian reported that Hiddink, who has been an advisor to Chelsea on an unpaid basis over the past two years, will be tasked with overseeing a summer of restructuring at Stamford Bridge, with his return to be warmly received by the senior playing staff.
“I’d like to see him back and I think most of the lads would. He’s obviously a very good guy, and someone I’ve been in contact with since he left as well, on a personal level. The fact that he knows us and the club means he’ll hit the ground running. He knows what the players are about, what our strengths and weaknesses are, even the training schedules,” club captain John Terry was quoted as saying by the daily.
“Last time he brought a lot of stability. He was a no-nonsense manager - even with the senior players - and was respected. If players turned up late for meetings, he’d leave them out of the side. No matter who it was. That was Guus, his type of character. He’s very understandable and approachable as well but, at the same time, he had that edge to him that made sure no one messed with him. He was only there for a short space of time, and sometimes that can be easier, but he loves the day-to-day stuff,” he said.
In 2009, Hiddink had a three-month spell as interim manager, following Luiz Felipe Scolari’s sacking and his stay saw Chelsea get 34 points from a possible 39, reach the semi-finals of the Champions League and win the FA Cup.
Hiddink was doubling as Russia’s national manager at the time, at the behest of Chelea’s Russian Roman Abramovich, but had indicated that such a job share would not be possible with the Turkey role.
- Hiddink rules out return to Stamford Bridge, suggests two Blues coaches - Apr 17, 2011
- Chelsea confident of getting Hiddink - May 24, 2011
- Guus Hiddink rules out dramatic Chelsea comeback - Apr 15, 2011
- Hiddink to coach Russian club Anzhi Makhachkala - Dec 21, 2011
- For Abramovich, it could be Dutch on coach selection - Apr 14, 2011
- Chelsea on alert eyeing Hiddink's possible return - Mar 23, 2011
- Hiddink could make a Premier League return next season - Feb 14, 2010
- Chelsea caretaker coach could net 2.5 million pounds for four months work - Feb 11, 2009
- Chelsea sack Ancelotti as manager - May 23, 2011
- Podolski turns down riches to sign with Arsenal - Mar 09, 2012
- Hiddink says will stay at Chelsea only till summer - Feb 20, 2009
- Guardiola to take sabbatical from football - Apr 27, 2012
- I don't fear for my Chelsea job, says Ancelotti - Dec 11, 2010
- Hiddink warns Chelsea stars to play for their future - May 05, 2009
- Chelsea owner Abramovich bans Hiddink from taking Man City job - Dec 06, 2009
Tags: behest, captain john, chealsea, club captain, compensation package, dutchman guus hiddink, english premier league, euro 2012, football federation, interim manager, john terry, luiz felipe scolari, personal level, roman abramovich, semi finals, short space, stamford bridge, training schedules, turkish football, unpaid basis