Source: Daily_Mail
Hoddle and Eriksson on Ivory Coast short list as Guus Hiddink talks drag
Glenn Hoddle could be on his way to the World Cup as Ivory Coast boss if Guus Hiddink cannot come to an agreement with the African nation.[LNB]Former Chelsea boss Hiddink is the No 1 choice to take over from Vahid Halilhodzic, but the offer of a four-month contract worth £660,000 would mean the Dutchman taking a huge hit by walking out on his current £530,000 a month deal as Russia boss.[LNB]Hiddink is under contract in his current role till mid-July - though he has no more matches to take charge of - and he has already agreed to take charge of Turkey on an initial two-year deal from August 1.[LNB] Star man: Didier Drogba (left) can't help the Ivory Coast to victory against South Korea[LNB]The 63-year-old is keen to take on the challenge of coaching in his fourth World Cup, but the Ivory Coast FA have drawn up a list of three alternatives in case an agreement cannot be sealed.[LNB]Hoddle and Sven Goran Eriksson, who were both interviewed for the Nigeria job earlier this month, are in contention, as is Frenchman Philippe Troussier.[LNB]Hoddle took England to the second round of the World Cup in 1998 andhas not worked as a manager since leaving Wolverhampton Wanderers threeand a half years ago.[LNB] [LNB] Contenders: Glenn Hoddle (pictured top overseeing training at his football academy in Cadiz) is a contender for the Ivory Coast job alongside Sven Goran Eriksson (above left) and Guus Hiddink (above right)[LNB]Former England, Manchester City and Notts County boss Eriksson watched the team lose 2-0 to South Korea at Queens Park Rangers' Loftus Road last week, but his agent believes Hiddink will take the job.[LNB]'It is true we met with the Ivorian federation but it will be Guus Hiddink who leads them at the World Cup.[LNB]'I don't think the Swedes need to get very excited about the link to the Ivory Coast. I don't think he (Eriksson) will coach them this summer.'[LNB][LNB]Sacked: Vahid Halilhodzic[LNB]Halilhodzic was dismissed after his team lost to Algeria in the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final. [LNB]This loss was Halilhodzic's first in 24 matches and he is furious.[LNB]'Our goal was to win the CAN Africa Cup of Nations and politicians started to put the pressure on us.[LNB]'That was the president's message. We absolutely had to win. I don't really know why (they fired me), but they had to sacrifice somebody. And they were not going to sacrifice the players or officials from the team. It was the coach.'[LNB]At the tournament in Angola, Ivory Coast wasted a 2-1 lead in injury time before losing to Algeria 3-2 after extra time.[LNB]'Until then, I was the best coach in the history of Ivory Coast,' said Halilhodzic. 'Eight minutes changed everything. But I knew perfectly well that it could happen when I accepted the mission.'[LNB]Halilhodzic, who has preivously been linked to Portsmouth, added he was not ready to start training again even if he received a three-year offer 'from an English club' during the Africa Cup of Nations.[LNB] Sven-Goran Eriksson in talks with World Cup-bound Ivory CoastHealth check - How Spain, Brazil and all the big boys are shaping upEngland old boys Eriksson and Hoddle on the shortlist for Nigeria postClick here for more World Cup newsCheck out our brand new World Football Blog [LNB]
