Guus Hiddink is set to be named as
Chelsea's temporary manager
after Stamford Bridge officials were granted permission by the
Russian Football Union to talk to their head coach.
The Dutchman, who led South Korea to the semi-finals of the 2002
World Cup, will take over following the dismissal of Luiz Felipe
Scolari yesterday.
Hiddink said he was approached by the Barclays Premier League
club to coach the team until the end of the season after Scolari
was sacked yesterday.
Chelsea have now confirmed they have made an approach to Russian
governing body. And that request has been granted.
'Chelsea Football Club can confirm it has officially approached
the Russian Football Union (RFU) for permission to speak to Guus
Hiddink to become the club's temporary coach until the end of the
season while continuing to be in charge of the Russian national
team,' said a Chelsea statement.
'That permission has been granted and Chelsea would like to
thank the RFU for their co-operation.' 'I have to admit it's a
complicated situation involving the Russian national team and
Chelsea," Hiddink told Reuters.
There are only two more Russia international matches before the
end of the Barclays Premier League season. He added that he has a
special relationship with Chelsea's billionaire owner Roman
Abramovich. 'I must say that this is an exceptional situation. If
it was any other club aside from Chelsea my answer would be a
straight "No",' he said.
Blues brothers? Roman Abramovich (left) and Gus
Hiddink take in Manchester United v Zenit in the UEFA Super
Cup
'But Chelsea is different because I have good relations with the
(club) owner. So I would like to help them (Chelsea) in this
situation if I could.'
Asked if this would involve working as a consultant for
Chelsea's coaching staff, Hiddink said: 'No, this would be a full
managerial role, a day-to-day job.
'But this would only be for the next two or three months until
the end of the season,' he added.
'Of course when Russia would play (World Cup qualifiers) I would
go there to coach them during that (international window) as there
won't be any (league) games during that time.
'I have already done that (combining two jobs) a couple of years
ago when I was coaching Australia and PSV (Eindhoven), so I'm
familiar with the situation and what it takes.'
Asked if he knew about Scolari's fate before the news was released,
he said: 'Well, you have your contacts and I have mine. 'I did get
a phone call from them (Chelsea management) and we discussed the
situation but we haven't come to a final decision just yet. 'But
the situation can change any day or even any hour.'
The Dutchman said before making any decisions he would discuss
his future with Russian soccer chief Vitaly Mutko. 'I was planning
to fly to Europe from Turkey at the end of the training camp (on
Wednesday) but I can change that and I can go directly to Moscow to
meet with Mutko,' he said.
'In any case, we'll meet in the next few days and will talk
about the whole thing."
Hiddink also said he was fully committed to helping Russia to
qualify for the 2010 World Cup finals.
'I will not leave my job with the Russian national team. It's
out of the question,' he said. 'When I took the Russia job it was a
long-term project and I don't like to leave it unfinished.'
Chelsea are keen to make a quick appointment and have released a
statement. It read: 'Chelsea Football Club can confirm it has
officially approached the Russian Football Union (RFU) for
permission to speak to Guus Hiddink to become the club’s temporary
coach until the end of the season while continuing to be in charge
of the Russian national team.
Sacked: Luiz Felipe Scolari
'That permission has been granted and Chelsea would like to
thank the RFU for their co-operation.'
Hiddink's agent said earlier today that he expected his client
to speak to owner Roman Abramovich over the managerial vacancy at
the London club.
Hiddink has been linked with the Chelsea job in the past and
already has a relationship with the Blues' billionaire owner
Abramovich through his role as Russia coach.
However, the Dutchman remains 'focused' on the task of leading
Russia to the 2010 World Cup according to his representative Cees
van Nieuwenhuizen.
