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Who is most likely to follow Hiddink at Chelsea?
By: Mark Meadows
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Photo blogs.reuters.com
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Interim Chelsea coach Guus Hiddink is adamant that he will
be leaving at the end of the season to concentrate on the Russia job.
Chelsea fans who had been hoping the Dutchman would decide to stay must
now start contemplating a fourth manager in two years.
Frank Rijkaard is unemployed and the style of football his Barcelona side
managed when winning the Champions League in 2006 would definitely go
down well at the Bridge, especially after some dour displays in recent
times.
On the downside, the Dutchman had a little run in with Chelsea when they
met Barca in Europe a few years back while his agent has said he is enjoying
a break from the game.
Roberto Mancini also has great pedigree and would seem available having
been sacked by Inter Milan at the end of last season despite leading them
to a third straight scudetto.
His departure from Inter though was rather strange. He said he would quit
in May after losing to Liverpool in the Champions League last 16 but changed
his mind the next day.
Chelsea fans might fret about whether he would offer the stability needed.
A messy resolution of his Inter contract is also ongoing and could complicate
any future employment.
Carlo Ancelotti is another Italian who has been linked with Chelsea in
the media. He held a meeting with Chelsea before Luiz Felipe Scolari was
appointed in the close season but decided to stay at AC Milan.
He has recently reaffirmed his desire to remain at the San Siro but if
Milan, only fifth in Serie A last term, continue to stutter he could be
out of a job come May.
They lost 2-1 to leaders Inter last weekend and are virtually out of the
title race while Wednesday's 1-1 UEFA Cup draw at Werder Bremen did not
go down well with club owner Silvio Berlusconi.
He has won two European Cups with Milan but would Chelsea really want
a coach who had just been sacked?
Bookmakers have given reasonably short odds on Avram Grant returning but
given the way he was unceremoniously dumped after losing the Champions
League final by the narrowest of margins, it would seem very strange for
him to go back.
Any other contenders you think will end up at Chelsea? Inter's Jose Mourinho
has cheekily said he thinks he will one day go back to the Blues, but
isn't he really waiting for the Manchester United job?
Reuters.com,
February 20th, 2009
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