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 146 - 165 of 205

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  1. Hey folks, leave off Scott S. He's just a little­ kid.

    From Loz, on Wed 11 Feb 10:54PM

  2. Spain are screwing England at the football,just wait­ until Wales strangles the pathetric English rugby team­ on satday

    From e=mc squared, on Wed 11 Feb 10:48PM

  3. ooooohhhh copying what I say. who's a clever boy.­

    you know ytou shouldnt speak to your father like that

    From yip, on Wed 11 Feb 10:47PM

  4. Scott s.
    fool.

    From HOVAbyte, on Wed 11 Feb 10:39PM

  5. donneysbeck - soory are you saying your'e losing­ your 'TEMPER' or TAMPAX? Speak/write ENGLISH­ you glaswegian idiot

    From Mike S, on Wed 11 Feb 10:07PM

  6. hovabyte is a w anker everyone.

    just to confirm the­ social misfit hovabyte is a w anker!

    From yip, on Wed 11 Feb 10:05PM

  7. Scott S,
    i'll reply all i like especially when you­ try to insult me or any other contributer to these­ pages you moron.
    Now you try and tell us that we do not­ have real opinionsbecause we do not agree with you?!!!.­ Crawl back into your cave and work on your social­ skills you p.rick.
    Fool.

    From HOVAbyte, on Wed 11 Feb 9:55PM

  8. donneysbeck - piss off you glaswgian prat.

    From Mike S, on Wed 11 Feb 9:25PM

  9. When I was younger, I visited financial consultants on­ how to invest, save, project analysis and motivation to­ workers. Those days, hit and run managers were all over­ the places misguiding ppl and misleading others.­

    Nowadays, its replicated in football that the­ managers just dont care anymore. But in scolari's­ case, he lost cos he didnt have those few traits that­ make a manager last longer than seven months.

    1.­ Consulting
    2. Coordinating
    3. Controlling
    4.­ Strategizing
    5. Project analysis
    6. Objectives­ management
    7. Motivation of stakeholders.

    Results;
    1.­ Axe
    2. Breach of contract
    3. Robbing chelsea of 7.5m

    From Majoser, on Wed 11 Feb 9:21PM

  10. donneysbeck, are you some kind of re tard?

    From Joanna M, on Wed 11 Feb 9:18PM

  11. go away hovabyte. get a life.

    I'll say it again.­ that isnt these peoples real opinions. if these people­ were joining the club they supported these people would­ be jumping for joy.

    now dont reply to me again you­ loser!

    From yip, on Wed 11 Feb 9:18PM

  12. My sweet Jesus, aint it the truth that the wheels have­ gone off l'il ol' Chelsea's wagon.­ We've a sayin in the Lone Star State, If the steers­ an ugly mutt, it dont matter how much dough you throw­ at it; it'll stil be horseshit after 2 years of­ success.

    From Joanna M, on Wed 11 Feb 9:17PM

  13. Peri,
    Why are you fetching alex ferguson into that­ comparison? Goose is the best, just as scolari was a­ few months ago. Its not about being famous elsewhere­ but its all and only about producing results in the­ premier league.

    Initially, scolari had it but it got­ into his balding head and the ppl he managed wanted to­ see how many games could scolari win without them­ scoring goals.
    Conspiracy at the bridge = Axe.

    From Majoser, on Wed 11 Feb 9:08PM

  14. Scott S,
    Its not me who thinks chelsea is doing­ something wrong, its your clubs owner Abramovich.­ he's the one who has taken the opportunity to­ appoint a new manager you n.ob jockey.
    You don't­ like anyone else's opinion so you continue to­ insult those who don't agree with you. Do you have­ a vote on the board cos i don't think your comments­ here are making any difference. and to many people seem­ to be taking offence to what you have to say.
    Fool.

    From HOVAbyte, on Wed 11 Feb 9:08PM

  15. SEAM M 155: YOU ARE THE ONLY MUPPET, SUPPORTER IS THAT­ WHAT YOU CALL YOURSELF MORE LIKE A JOKER:

    1: NOT ABOUT­ TROPHIES? WHY SPEND MILLIONS ON PLAYERS AND MANAGERS­ TO TRY AND WIN THEM

    2: FAMOUS SUPPORTERS? WHAT CLUB­ HAS'NT

    3: CHELSEA HEADHUNTERS? BEEN WATCHING TO­ MANY FILMS
    (FOOTBALL FACTORY OR GREEN STREET!!­ REMEMBETR THESE FILMS ARE FOR 18 RATED)

    CONCLUSION:­ YOU ARE A COMPLETE IDIOT (MADE ME LAUGH THOUGH OF HOW­ FOOLISH SOME IDIOTS ARE, TRY AND GET ON THE SHORTLIST­ FOR MANAGERS NEXT SEASON, YOU WILL BLEND IN WITH THE­ BORD)

    From seasons12379, on Wed 11 Feb 9:07PM

  16. Sean M,
    I dont think chelsea is just as weak as we­ think. Before this lame russian brought his few coins­ to the bridge, chelsea was not in the championship but­ the debts were skypocketing.
    I hate to disappoint a fan­ whose credentials doesnt depend on the club he|she­ supports. Imagine I've many friends who are open in­ their view of things and I think you're don just­ coil back into thinking about championship.

    From Majoser, on Wed 11 Feb 9:00PM

  17. this man is the best football manager/head coach in the­ world. forget alex ferguson, he had the security of a­ war chest of cash every season and never tried his luck­ in a foreign country, hiddink took on challenges all­ over the world and had success all the time, this guy­ is 2nd to none.

    From peri, on Wed 11 Feb 8:56PM

  18. CHELSEA HAVE HAD MORE MANAGERS THAN LIZ TAYLOR HAD­ HUSBUND'S THIS WILL END IN ANOTHER SOUR MARRAGE­ WHAT A LAUGHING STOCK ! SACK THE SLAP-HEAD

    From I TYSON, on Wed 11 Feb 8:56PM

  19. I never thought that someone had to learn english at­ some point in the evening till I heard a delcreative­ blah blah blah.

    This is a football forum full of­ hatred, malaise, name staining, and open to even those­ with a losing psychology.

    From Majoser, on Wed 11 Feb 8:52PM

  20. Scolari is sacked,great news.....boil him in oil along­ with the scots git.

    From e=mc squared, on Wed 11 Feb 8:49PM
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