There've been some rumblings out of Istanbul that ex-Chelsea manager Guus Hiddink wants to leave his position as Turkey's national team manager, and apparently they're not just hot air (which surprises me just as much as it does you). SI's Carrie Baird, who also brought us the 'Carlo Ancelotti is definitely gone in summer' story*, is indicating that the 64 year-old does indeed want out. To Twitter!
still in Turkey, news that Hiddink is positioning for a new job, as already expressed on SI.com appears to be.. absolutely correct!
carrie baird
carriebaird
What does that mean for Chelsea? Well, it depends how much you trust Ian McGarry, who's claiming that conversations with the team have led him to believe that Hiddink will return to Stamford Bridge to become Director of Football Operations, replacing the outgoing Frank Arneson.
@carriebaird Yep. Hiddink to become director of football ops at #CFC - take over Arnesen's duties and be link btwn dressing room and the owner. Hiddink very popular among players and still very close to Abramovich. Makes perfect sense.
Ian McGarry
garbosj
Make of that what you will (seems more like speculation than anything else to me), but it does make sense and wouldn't be a big surprise. However, it does not appear that Hiddink is in the running to manage the club. He would apparently prefer a more low-key, less travel intensive role as a technical director, which I guess is fine by me.