Premier League - Chelsea confirm Hiddink

Eurosport - Thu, 12 Feb 11:09:00 2009

Chelsea have confirmed the appointment of Guus Hiddink as their new manager until the end of the season.

Guus Hiddink - Chelsea - 0

The Dutchman was quickly targeted as a replacement for Luiz Felipe Scolari, who was sacked on Monday following a poor run of results.

Hiddink, currently in charge of Russia's national side, was given permission by the Russian Football Union to hold talks with Chelsea, and will now combine the two positions.

A statement on Chelsea's official website read: "Chelsea Football Club are delighted to confirm Guus Hiddink will become temporary coach until the end of the season. He is due to meet the players this week.

"The club would like to take this opportunity to thank the Russia Football Union for their understanding and cooperation."

The wheels of the move were put into motion by Blues owner Roman Abramovich, who helps finance Hiddink's role with Russia.

And a short-term deal has been agreed which will see the former PSV Eindhoven and Real Madrid boss take charge at Stamford Bridge at least until the conclusion of the current campaign.

"It's to help out a friend. Abramovich is doing so much for Russian football and I want to do something back," Hiddink told Dutch Radio station 538.

"At the end of March there are two qualification matches, then again in June. So it is possible and at the end of the English season it's over.

'Within a few days I will go to London. I expect to be on the pitch next week."

He told Reuters: "It's never enough time to prepare a team in one week but this is an exceptional situation. Chelsea have good players and they should be in top form and that should make my job easier."

Hiddink also said he planned to attend Chelsea's FA Cup fifth round tie at Watford on Saturday.

Reports had suggested the 62-year-old is in line for a £2.5 million pay cheque for his four months in the Stamford Bridge hotseat.

But Hiddink denied his interest in the job was a result of the potentially enormous financial benefits and claimed he does not intend to put pen to paper on a contract.

"I don't have to sign one. It's not a question of money," he said.

Asked if he intended to bring any assistants with him to Stamford Bridge, he replied: "Not at this time."

"I always want to see the situation in the team myself first before making any changes if they have to be made," he added.

Meanwhile, Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti has been touted as the long-term replacement for Scolari, with the Italian rumoured to be ready to take over from Hiddink in June.

Mike Hytner / Eurosport

Comment 166 - 185 of 205

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  1. Good decision for bringing in Guus Hiddink as Chelsea­ new manager at this critical period. I really thank the­ Russia Football Union for their understanding and­ cooperation. According to elders "A FRIEND IN NEED­ IS A FRIEND INDEED"

    Willie O. Osoks - Nigeria.

    From willieo, on Thu 12 Feb 5:57AM

  2. WastedSoul!Bravo, i fully agreed with your comment.

    From owenhero89, on Thu 12 Feb 5:39AM

  3. Chelsea will win nothing this season even they hire­ Guus.They are players are rubbish and outdated.

    From WastedSoul, on Thu 12 Feb 5:10AM

  4. A Russian collaboration????

    From francis, on Thu 12 Feb 4:10AM

  5. same here rick b, not @#$% got invalid, @#$% can be­ posted. Crazy Yahoo

    From c41ng0ku, on Thu 12 Feb 3:50AM

  6. looks like all the moronic donneysbeck comments have­ gone byebye, and i didnt even have to report him.
    Scott­ S.hit is gonna be crying when he finds out

    From HOVAbyte, on Thu 12 Feb 1:24AM

  7. hmmm if carlo ancelotti comes to Chelsea maybe Kaka­ will folow
    :] better not get my hopes up though.

    From svayam002, on Thu 12 Feb 12:32AM

  8. yeah, i'll reply to english comments only. I­ don't even bother reading the foreign shi.te.

    From HOVAbyte, on Thu 12 Feb 12:08AM

  9. You all make me laugh... Especially the @#$%­ 'donneysbeck'...
    Just a fool!

    From Jiokey, on Thu 12 Feb 12:06AM

  10. oh a double team of morons how queer!!
    stick to biting­ each other where you both like it morons.
    Scott S.hit,­ translate that for your friend.
    Fool.

    From HOVAbyte, on Thu 12 Feb 12:03AM

  11. haha runt. you are an old lonely man arent you. looking­ at pictures of young boys bums on your computer at­ night.

    I think i'll get donny to bite your willy­ off

    From yip, on Wed 11 Feb 11:56PM

  12. And i see youre trying to crawl into donnysbecks a.rse­ but thats okay cos you must be one of the only ones who­ wastes time reading that frivel from your over posting­ sheep shagging friend

    From HOVAbyte, on Wed 11 Feb 11:52PM

  13. whats ur problem rick?

    another @#$% it appears that­ enjoys starting arguments.

    From yip, on Wed 11 Feb 11:31PM

  14. ooh scott.s watchin shameless infact its just past ur­ bedtime littlt boy go have a wet dream about mimi­ mcguire u sap

    From rick b, on Wed 11 Feb 11:24PM

  15. your right donny. Im gonna stop replying. sum1 just­ needs to get them telt though.

    poor england eh.­ haha.

    am watchimn shameless again, missed most it last­ nyt.

    From yip, on Wed 11 Feb 11:15PM

  16. donneysbeck u have no life id say i dont come on here­ much but any time i do ur here writin like a @#$% and­ actin lik one i suppose u must b to say u hav all this­ time on ur hands i didnt know they let you hav a­ computer in the mad house u have no life u jock

    From rick b, on Wed 11 Feb 11:14PM

  17. donnybeck hasnt finished shagging that sheep yet
    That­ poor sheep..... imagine being shagged non stop by a­ babbling idiot
    England got shagged like a sheep tonight­ by Spain and talking of shagging sheep...
    lozza33 would­ fancy a go if he can get off the porn....

    From e=mc squared, on Wed 11 Feb 11:13PM

  18. i hate this site i write a big long comment actually­ about the article and not talkin @#$% and its invalid­ and all u retarda can write @#$% all nite

    From rick b, on Wed 11 Feb 11:10PM

  19. gee's, I see they are letting all the patients use­ the computers today.

    you tell them donny.

    england­ are @#$% cause they didnt start lampard

    From yip, on Wed 11 Feb 11:00PM

  20. Johny Taff, who gives a ratsfuck about rugby and shee­ pshag ging? Only you Valleys boys. Now go and play with­ your mum's tits.

    From Loz, on Wed 11 Feb 10:55PM
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