The Hiddink Turkey Thing....is complicated

Guus Hiddink manager of Turkey

Guus Hiddink is hoping to secure his release from his contract as coach of Turkey by the end of this week so that he can take over as Chelsea manager.

However it is understood that Roman Abramovich, the Chelsea owner, may offer Hiddink only an initial 12-month contract — opening the way for another manager to take over next summer with the Dutchman moving to a role as director of football.

The expectation from sources close to Abramovich is that the idea of bringing Jose Mourinho back to Stamford Bridge is growing on the Russian billionaire.

It seems impossible that Mourinho can leave Real Madrid right now — although there are suggestions that he has a €25million (£22.3 million) release clause in his contract — especially as he wants to stay in Spain for one more campaign, having seen off the club’s former director general, Jorge Valdano.

Informal discussions have taken place between Mourinho’s camp and Abramovich’s close associates but no offer has been made and it has not gone as far as talking about a return. Even the fact that the parties have talked represents a significant shift given the irritation Abramovich felt at paying Mourinho £18 million compensation when he was sacked in 2007.

Hiddink, who is on holiday this week, remains Abramovich’s preferred choice to succeed Carlo Ancelotti, who has announced he is taking a year’s break from football management, and is expected to join the club the week before pre-season training starts on July 4.

There does remain the possibility of a formal approach to Mark Hughes, the now former Fulham manager, although he is regarded as a distant third in Chelsea’s thinking. The hierarchy are also still considering whether they can persuade Gianfranco Zola to join the coaching staff although he has stated he is only interested in a head coach’s role.

Chelsea, however, are reluctant to pay any compensation to the Turkish Football Federation for the final year of Hiddink’s €4 million-a-season contract, particularly as the club feel that the Turks would like their coach to go. Chelsea want Hiddink for free.

Despite protestations from his advisers, it is understood that the Turks are considering appointing Rafael Benítez as Hiddink’s successor and have quickly grown disillusioned by their present coach.

Matters are complicated because the TFF president, Mahmut Ozgener, who recruited Hiddink and has a strong relationship with him, is expected to lose his post in presidential elections later this month.

It is believed that Hiddink has already used that prospect as a means to explain why he is willing to break his contract with the TFF — having previously prided himself on never having taken such a step.

Indeed it may well be that the TFF is pressurising Hiddink to quickly conclude a deal with Chelsea because they also want him to go. Abramovich, who is in Moscow on business, which is slowing down the process, has not yet sanctioned a formal approach to the TFF asking for Hiddink’s release but one is expected any day now.

“There is nothing official happening because both parties are away,” said TFF spokesman Turker Tozar, with Ozgener also on holiday. “Nothing can happen at the moment and Mr Hiddink has a contract to 2012.”

Hiddink is implicitly trusted by Abramovich and even if he is offered only a short-term deal as manager, he will be asked to stay on to help re-organise the way the club are run.

He has done all he can to publicly state that he would like the Chelsea job and position himself so that when the appointment is made it is not seen as a shock.

Hiddink enjoyed a successful spell as interim manager of the club, winning the FA Cup, after Luiz Felipe Scolari was sacked in 2009.

Courtesy The Guardian