Hiddink favored for job at Chelsea
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AFP
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Şubat 11, 2009 00:00
LONDON - Luiz Felipe Scolari had barely left Stamford Bridge before feverish speculation about his replacement as Chelsea manager began yesterday, with most papers putting Guus Hiddink at the top of the list.
Hiddink is believed to be the biggest contender for the job, with Frank Rijkaard and Roberto Mancini are reported to be among the candidates. Guus Hiddink says he is in talks with Chelsea about the manager's job. Coach of the Russia team, Hiddink said at the team's training camp in Antalya that he had good relations with Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich and might consider a move to Stamford Bridge.
Hiddink is quoted on the Dutch national broadcaster's Web site as saying he would have said "no" immediately to any other club.
He is quoted as saying: "Chelsea is a different matter because I have a good relationship with the club's owner. If I can, I would like to help."
Phone call
While Hiddink is determined to see through the task of leading Russia to the World Cup finals, he would take a call from the Chelsea owner.
"I think because of the personal relationship he has with Mr Abramovich he will definitely talk to him and listen to him but I think Mr Abramovich realises he also he has not finished his job (with Russia)," his representative Cees van Nieuwenhuizen told BBC radio. "I think that Guus and Mr Abramovich know each other well enough -- he's not going to say he is not going to talk to (Abramovich) and he is not going to listen. He is focused on his job with Russia, he is with the team on a training camp in Turkey and he is looking forward to qualifying with Russia for the World Cup."
Hiddink's quotes came after many commentators questioned who would want the poisoned chalice of a club where the Russian billionaire owner had no qualms about sacking managers, the dressing room was divided and which was sliding down the league table.
"No money, no class and no security... dream job is becoming a nightmare," said the Daily Mirror tabloid. Scolari was axed on Monday just eight months in to a three-year deal, becoming the fourth manager to feel the brunt of Roman Abramovich's displeasure in less than five years.
The Mirror had little sympathy for Scolari, saying he failed to react to warning signals that he had to sharpen his act, and "was a dead man walking". "Last night, for the last time, he walked out of Cobham, never to return. Gone and unlamented," the tabloid said.
Others noted Scolari's lax training regime but said he inherited a team that badly needed rejuvenating and was not given the help he needed.
Scolari had lost the support of some of his players, and the Sun warned Chelsea had become a club "deeply divided by warring factions", not helped by Abramovich who treated it like he was a "child with a toy".
Abramovic was to blame, according to the Independent and the Scolari was simply the "latest fall guy in history of Roman will".
Deep changes were needed at Stamford Bridge, said the Daily Telegraph, which remarked: "Chelsea's problems run deeper than Scolari's undoubted failings."
"Scolari remains an accomplished coach who joined a good club at the wrong time," one commentator said.
Hiddink is quoted on the Dutch national broadcaster's Web site as saying he would have said "no" immediately to any other club.
He is quoted as saying: "Chelsea is a different matter because I have a good relationship with the club's owner. If I can, I would like to help."
Phone call
While Hiddink is determined to see through the task of leading Russia to the World Cup finals, he would take a call from the Chelsea owner.
"I think because of the personal relationship he has with Mr Abramovich he will definitely talk to him and listen to him but I think Mr Abramovich realises he also he has not finished his job (with Russia)," his representative Cees van Nieuwenhuizen told BBC radio. "I think that Guus and Mr Abramovich know each other well enough -- he's not going to say he is not going to talk to (Abramovich) and he is not going to listen. He is focused on his job with Russia, he is with the team on a training camp in Turkey and he is looking forward to qualifying with Russia for the World Cup."
Hiddink's quotes came after many commentators questioned who would want the poisoned chalice of a club where the Russian billionaire owner had no qualms about sacking managers, the dressing room was divided and which was sliding down the league table.
"No money, no class and no security... dream job is becoming a nightmare," said the Daily Mirror tabloid. Scolari was axed on Monday just eight months in to a three-year deal, becoming the fourth manager to feel the brunt of Roman Abramovich's displeasure in less than five years.
The Mirror had little sympathy for Scolari, saying he failed to react to warning signals that he had to sharpen his act, and "was a dead man walking". "Last night, for the last time, he walked out of Cobham, never to return. Gone and unlamented," the tabloid said.
Others noted Scolari's lax training regime but said he inherited a team that badly needed rejuvenating and was not given the help he needed.
Scolari had lost the support of some of his players, and the Sun warned Chelsea had become a club "deeply divided by warring factions", not helped by Abramovich who treated it like he was a "child with a toy".
Abramovic was to blame, according to the Independent and the Scolari was simply the "latest fall guy in history of Roman will".
Deep changes were needed at Stamford Bridge, said the Daily Telegraph, which remarked: "Chelsea's problems run deeper than Scolari's undoubted failings."
"Scolari remains an accomplished coach who joined a good club at the wrong time," one commentator said.