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Where next for Guus Hiddink?
By Mark Molloy
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Guus Hiddink. Photo sport.co.uk
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Following Russia's failure to book a place at South Africa
2010 after a disappointing play-off qualifying defeat to minnows Slovenia,
the future of their well-travelled manager Guus Hiddink remains uncertain.
Although the respected Dutchman has refused to rule out a contract extension
with the Russian national side, it remains more likely Hiddink will seek
a new challenge after more than three years in charge of the European
nation. Sport.co.uk evaluates his options...
A brief glance at Guus Hiddink's CV will tell you why he is currently
one of the most highly respected and most sought after managers in world
football today.
A Treble with Dutch side PSV in the 1987-88 season, two fourth placed
World Cup finishes, a European Championship semi-final and a FA Cup triumph
with Chelsea last season has earned Hiddink a reputation as one of the
finest managers in modern football.
25 years of experience managing in Spain, Holland, Turkey, England and
Australia shows Hiddink embraces new challenges and he will undoubtedly
be inundated with offers over the next few months.
COMMITMENT TO RUSSIA
The man dubbed 'Lucky Guus' still has a contract with Russia until July,
however it is reported Hiddink does not feel obliged to fulfil the remaining
months of his contract after the country's World Cup dreams were left
in tatters with the shock result in Maribor last month.
Hiddink told The Sunday Mirror: "It's flattering that the Russians
have given me the chance to sign a new contract and stay with them until
2012."
"However I don't want to go through with the Russian offer at this
stage."
The former Australia and Holland coach now looks set to decide his future
in the New Year, after the Russian Football Federation elections, with
a return to the Premier League being widely speculated.
RETURN TO ENGLAND
While Hiddink is a personal friend of Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich,
a return to West London remains improbable with the Russian oligarch seeking
stability under Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti. Hiddink also looks set
to turn down a role as the club's technical director for one last job
in management.
Unsurprisingly, Hiddink is seen as a potential candidate for the managerial
positions at Manchester City and Liverpool should results fail to improve
for the North West rivals.
Mark Hughes' highly ambitious City outfit endured a frustrating seven
successive league draws before last weekend's victory over league leaders
Chelsea. After splashing out over ?200m on new players in just over a
year, a top four finish is likely to be the minimum requirement set by
the club's Abu Dhabi owners.
Should Welshman Hughes fail to maintain results, then Hiddink could yet
be tempted by the spending power and budget which would be available at
Eastlands.
NEXT UP ANFIELD?
Liverpool coach Rafael Benitez is fighting for his job at Anfield and
looks no nearer to ending the club's 20-year title hiatus after five defeats
already this term, despite finishing second last year.
Benitez however remains a fan favourite on the Red half of Merseyside
and while the club would struggle to find the reported ?20m to buy out
the remainder of his contract should they decide a change in management
is necessary, the Spaniard's position at the club would almost become
untenable should the famous club fail to make the Champions League next
year.
Both Hughes and Benitez are likely to be given until the end of the season,
at the very least, to prove their top four credentials, making a Premier
League return for Hiddink unlikely until the summer.
The FA Cup winner, who has confirmed he has already turned down numerous
job offers and declined the opportunity to manage another side at the
World Cup, looks more likely to return to club management in either Italy,
Spain or Germany.
MADRID OR BAYERN?
Manuel Pellegrini remains under pressure at free-spending Real Madrid
following defeat to Barcelona and cup humiliation at the hands of lowly
Alcorcon.
Ambitious president Florentino Perez would not think twice about replacing
Pellegrini following any more set-backs and Hiddink would be a major candidate
for the Bernabeu hotseat.
Hiddink's name is also in the frame at Bayern Munich following a series
of bust-ups between Louis van Gaal and several senior players, as well
as a series of unconvincing displays in the Bundesliga so far this term.
However qualification to the last 16 of the Champions League has bought
the Dutchman some time.
Hiddink remains relatively silent on his future and appears to be taking
his time to evaluate all the options open to him.
A manager of his calibre doesn't become available very often and any club
would be foolish to turn down the chance of handing Hiddink his next big
challenge.
Sport.co.uk,
10 December 2009
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