By Miles Chambers
26 Jun 2011 14:05:00
FA Cup: Guus Hiddink lifts the FA Cup
Related Links
Teams
Players
Guus Hiddink was the first choice of Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich, according the coach’s agent.
Andre Villas-Boas, who won four trophies with Porto in his maiden campaign at the club last season, ultimately took over from sacked Carlo Ancelotti.
Hiddink, 64, managed Chelsea for the latter half of the 2008-09 season after Luiz Felipe Scolari was fired. And the Dutchman’s agent claims the Portuguese 33-year old was never intending to quit his role as head coach of the Turkey national side.
“Every now and then they talk, they Abramovich and Hiddink see each other, and Guus would say: ‘I have a contract so it’s no use considering a position for me at Chelsea.’ I think Abramovich has respected that position,” Van Nieuwenhuizen said in the Observer.
“When he signed with Turkey he realised he would be in this position in principle through at least to the European Championship, so he’s a professional.”
Abramovich was not the only person after Hiddink’s services – Nieuwenhuizen admitted there was interest in the Serie A too.
The agent said: Inter president Massimo Moratti also mentioned last week that he wanted Guus Hiddink. And Guus has already been connected in the past a couple of times, related to big clubs, not only Chelsea.”
The Dutch coach won the FA Cup with Chelsea and only lost one game when in charge at Stamford Bridge, a 1-0 defeat against Tottenham.
Hiddink has been a prolific international coach, managing the Korea, Russia and Australia national sides successfully.
His current stint as Turkey coach began in February 2010 and he is contracted to coach them until after Euro 2012.
Go here to read the rest:
Guus Hiddink was Roman Abramovich’s first choice for Chelsea boss – agent