Hiddink open to Bridge return

Published May. 28, 2011 9:15 a.m. ET

foxsports

Hiddink is guiding Turkey through a Euro 2012 qualification campaign but has not dismissed out of hand a return to the role he filled on an interim basis after Luiz Felipe Scolari was dismissed early in 2009. The 64-year-old Dutchman has already talked about his appetite for club football, and a return to the Premier League club to work for owner Roman Abramovich would appeal having previously worked for him at Chelsea and indirectly for the Russian national team. Abramovich supported Hiddink's dual role with both Chelsea and Russia through his financial support of the Russian team. Hiddink, at a Turkey training camp, said of speculation linking him with Chelsea: "If there was a concrete offer, then I would think about it." But Hiddink is unlikely to break his contract with Turkey, who face a crucial qualifier with Belgium in Brussels on Friday, with the nation in contention to finish second in Group A and secure a November play-off ahead of the finals in Poland and Ukraine. However, Hiddink would not commit to a possible return to take over from Carlo Ancelotti. He added: "There's nothing concrete. You cannot go into all kind of speculation or rumours because there's nothing concrete. The moment things are concrete, I'll go to where I have to be, direct. "First, get this game done next Friday, a difficult game, you know. Then we'll see." Former Chelsea striker Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink, meanwhile, believes Hiddink would be the obvious replacement for Ancelotti. Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp and Porto boss Andre Villas-Boas have been mooted as potential replacements, although Hiddink is rumoured to be Abramovich's first choice. The former Holland boss managed Chelsea to FA Cup glory during his short time in charge in 2009 and Hasselbaink believes a return to Stamford Bridge would make sense. "I know him very well," he said. "He was the one that gave me my first cap for Holland. "He is a very intelligent football man and a very good football man. "He has already been here at Chelsea and was a success, so I can understand him being the favourite. "Guus has already proved himself, he has already been here. "That would be an easy one I think."