Chelsea Football Club

• Nickname:Blues
• Founded:1905
• Manager:Rafael Benitez

• Ground:Stamford Bridge
• Capacity:42440

Hiddink not set for Chelsea

26 May 2008 - 11:43:02

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Guus Hiddink will not leave his post as Russia coach to take charge at Chelsea after the European Championship, according to his agent.

The 61-year-old Dutchman is considered one of the favourites to replace the sacked Avram Grant in the Stamford Bridge hot-seat.

But Hiddink, who is believed to be close to Chelsea's Russian owner Roman Abramovich due to his links to the national team, will not be walking away from international football before the 2010 World Cup.

Abramovich is believed to have played a key role in the appointment of the veteran former PSV Eindhoven, Real Madrid and Netherlands coach to the Russia job in 2006.

"There's no way Guus will go to Chelsea," his agent Cees van Nieuwenhuizen told The Times.

"It's not an option and has never been. Guus is the coach of Russia and will stay until the World Cup of 2010."

Chelsea parted company with Israeli coach Grant on Saturday after he could only lead the club to second placed finishes in the Premier League and Champions League behind Manchester United.

Out-going Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard has also been strongly linked with the Stamford Bridge club.