NEWS: THE AGENT of Guus Hiddink yesterday refused to rule out the Dutchman returning to frontline club management amid reports he is the number-one target to succeed Carlo Ancelotti as Chelsea boss. However, Cees van Nieuwenhuizen warned the earliest Hiddink would currently be available would be October as he would not break his contract with Turkey.
There have been suggestions Hiddink was opposed to resuming a career in club management, with the 64-year-old more interested in becoming a sporting director. But pressed over whether that was the case, Van Nieuwenhuizen said: “I don’t know that you can say that. He is focusing on his job and he likes what he is doing.
“He said also in his column on Saturday in De Telegraaf, the Dutch newspaper, that as long as he is in the race for the European Championship with Turkey, he would continue to focus on that. Once that is finished, he will start thinking about his future.”
Hiddink, who saved Chelsea’s season when he won the FA Cup as caretaker boss two years ago, is contracted to Turkey until the end of Euro 2012 but will leave his position immediately if they fail to qualify. They lie third in Group A and face a crucial match with second-placed Belgium on June 3rd. Defeat would leave them four points adrift of a play-off spot with four games remaining and it is not beyond the realms of possibility that he could be sacked.
The Turkish Football Federation recently said they would not look favourably on an approach for Hiddink, meaning Chelsea could be faced with the dilemma of waiting for him to become available – and appointing an interim manager – or looking elsewhere. Van Nieuwenhuizen said he knew nothing of reports Hiddink had recommended Marco van Basten to club owner Roman Abramovich as an alternative to himself as manager but confirmed the fellow Dutchmen were in touch.
That was backed up by Van Basten’s agent Perry van Overeem, who said: “They know each other well. But it’s a professional relationship.” Van Overeem confirmed there had been no approach from Chelsea for the former Holland player and manager, who has been out of work since leaving Ajax two years ago.
The other name touted as successor to Ancelotti – who was sacked barely an hour after Sunday’s game at Everton – is Porto’s Andre Villas-Boas but he distanced himself from the job after winning the Europa League last Wednesday night.
Meanwhile, Carlos Tevez reported for Manchester City’s FA Cup celebration march to Eastlands last night insisting there was never a thought he might miss it.
