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Guus Hiddink on his way back to Chelsea at Frank Arnesen's
expense
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Popular: Guus Hiddink is loved by Chelsea
fans and players alike. Photo REUTERS
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By Rob Draper
Guus Hiddink is in line for a dramatic return to Chelsea next summer,
with Frank Arnesen's future as sporting director still in doubt.
After an extraordinary week in which chief executive Peter Kenyon left
his full-time role to be replaced by Ron Gourlay, Hiddink is now ready
to come back as an executive director after he has taken Russia to the
World Cup finals.
The return of Hiddink would be enormously popular with fans and players,
who warmed to his engaging style in the five months in which he took over
the first team last season, which culminated in Chelsea winning the FA
Cup.
Hiddink has always said that he might return to Chelsea as an adviser,
though only after he has fulfilled his responsibilities with Russia who,
under Hiddink's guidance, are on the verge of qualifying for 2010.
Hiddink's contract expires in the summer and at that point he will be
free to assume a role in the Chelsea boardroom and may even be appointed
sporting director to replace Arnesen.
Ironically, Hiddink and Arnesen had a fruitful working relationship at
Chelsea last season even though they had fallen out working together at
PSV Eindhoven. During Hiddink's brief tenure at Chelsea, Arnesen was promoted
to his role of sporting director.
Hiddink may argue for Arnesen to be retained, though the failure of his
youth academy to produce enough players for the first team has made him
vulnerable and his job prospects are likely to hinge on the Gael Kakuta
case.
Arnesen was instrumental in moving the 16-year-old to Chelsea, which resulted
in the club receiving a one-year transfer ban, after being found guilty
by FIFA of inducing Kakuta to break his contract.
Dailymail.co.uk,
19th September 2009
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