Chelsea were this afternoon on the brink of appointing Guus Hiddink as their new manager until the end of the season after being granted permission by his Russian employers to open talks with the Dutchman.
Hiddink has emerged as Chelsea’s number one target to lead the team on a short-term basis, and if the former PSV Eindhoven coach accepts the job he will sign a contract until the summer.
Hiddink will remain as manager of Russia as he is determined to lead the nation into the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa.
Chelsea said in a statement: “Chelsea Football Club can confirm we have 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.
“That permission has been granted and Chelsea would like to thank the RFU for their co-operation.”
Hiddink was contacted by the Premier League club after Luiz Felipe Scolari was sacked yesterday.
Hiddink stressed there was no way he would be quitting Russia but as the nation have just two World Cup qualifiers between now and the end of the season — Azerbaijan at home at the end of March and Liechtenstein away on April 1st — the Dutchman feels confident he can combine both roles.
Hiddink has previous experience of such a position when he coached Australia and PSV Eindhoven simultaneously. If Chelsea cannot get Hiddink in place before the weekend, they are happy for assistant coach Ray Wilkins and his team to take charge of their FA Cup fifth-round tie against Watford at Vicarage Road.
However, Chelsea will look for a permanent successor to Scolari in the summer and Carlo Ancelotti of AC Milan remains the top contender.
Ancelotti, 49, the longest-serving manager in Serie A, turned down a move last season but AC Milan’s organising director Umberto Gandini admitted he may now re-consider — but not until the end of the current campaign.
Speaking in Geneva at the European Clubs’ Association general assembly, Gandini said: “I cannot talk on behalf of Carlo but I don’t think he would be interested in doing anything now. But if the position is open in July then I think he might consider it. He already had a chance to consider it when he was approached last summer.
“But it’s absolutely impossible that AC Milan would make any adjustment to the squad or technical staff now.”
Ancelotti is understood to have an agreement with AC Milan whereby he can move on from the club when he wants regardless of his contract.
Gandini added: “In the summer, at the end of the season I think all teams have to evaluate the situation, players and coaches as well. It is a brand new system and a brand new world so I cannot speculate on anything.”
Meanwhile, Chelsea’s Nigerian midfielder John Obi Mikel has voiced his disappointment at Scolari’s dismissal but pledged to support his replacement.
Mikel said: “We’ve had a bad run but it’s the fault of everyone and it’s unfortunate he’s gone. But there’s nothing we can do about it. Yes I’m disappointed, he’s a good manager, a nice person, like a father in the club — a father figure. But at the same time if the club thinks it’s the best thing then that’s the right way to go.
“He had his own coaching style, unfortunately it didn’t work for Chelsea but I think he’s a great manager, a nice person and I’m really disappointed to see him go.”
