Former Chelsea boss Guus Hiddink claims he was approached by
both Liverpool and Manchester City to take over as manager last
summer.
While Liverpool were at that point without a manager due to
Rafael Benitez's departure, City had publicly backed Roberto
Mancini. City have come out to "strenuously deny" there was any
approach for Hiddink, who took over as manager of Turkey in
August.
Hiddink, who had a successful short spell with Chelsea in the
second half of the 2008-09 season following Luiz Felipe Scolari's
exit, insists he has no intention of returning to club management
on a full-time basis - which may come as a relief to Roy
Hodgson.
Both Hodgson and Mancini now find themselves under pressure with
very difference circumstances. Liverpool's resurgence suffered a
setback in defeat at Stoke on Saturday, while City fans have not
seen a home goal for six weeks as they become disillusioned with
his tactics in pursuit of a first Champions League
qualification.
Hiddink was quoted as saying by the Daily Mirror: "In
the summer City and Liverpool both came to me with an inquiry.
"But at my age I don't want to manage a club again for seven
days a week over three years."
Vicky Kloss, Man City's chief communications officer, said: "We
strenuously deny that we have ever spoken to Guus Hiddink or any
other manager about the possibility of succeeding Roberto
Mancini."
City have won just one of their last five League games, taking
only five points.
Reports in last week's press also claimed Mancini had a training
ground row with Emmanuel Adebayor, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Wayne
Bridge and Joleon Lescott. That was also denied but none of the
four were in the matchday squad for the disappointing 0-0 draw at
home to Birmingham on Saturday.