Turkish Football Federation resigned to losing Guus Hiddink to Chelsea – report

Guus Hiddink (Turkey manager)

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The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) has accepted that national team coach Guus Hiddink will leave to take over at Chelsea, according to the BBC.

The 64-year-old was installed as the bookmakers’ favourite to succeed Carlo Ancelotti as Blues boss despite initially denying reports he would relinquish his role with Turkey prematurely to take over at Stamford Bridge.

But recently the Dutchman’s stance has softened, and in a press conference on Sunday he refused to confirm he would still be in charge for the side’s next Euro 2012 qualifier against Kazakhstan in September.

A senior source inside the TFF reportedly said they understand that Hiddink cannot turn down a move to Chelsea and that they think he will leave.

He added that the main reason for the Dutchman’s change of heart was the likely replacement of the man who brought him to Istanbul, Mahmut Ozgener, as Federation chief in the next presidential elections in June.

Hiddink enjoys a close relationship with Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich, who funded the former PSV manager’s time in charge of the Russian national side and has employed him as a football consultant.

He is also still held in high regard at Stamford Bridge, having won the FA Cup and reached the Champions League semi-finals in a previous spell as caretaker boss in 2009.

The Turkish Football Federation are expecting the west Londoners to make a formal approach for Hiddink this week, and it is understood the club may have to pay around £3.5 million to release him from his contract.

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