Chelsea owner to reward Guus Hiddink with permanent job at Stamford Bridge

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Guus Hiddink has defied nearly every expectation as Chelsea interim manager since taking over for Jose Mourinho in late-December. He has just one loss in all competitions during his stint and has helped raise the team from a legitimate relegation risk to eighth-place, and within striking range of qualification for European football next season. However, despite seemingly having no plans to keep him as the permanent manager, Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich plans to keep Hiddink at Stamford Bridge.

According to the Metro, the 69-year-old Hiddink is going to be offered a permanent role at Chelsea in an advisory capacity once his term as interim boss ends. Unlike in 2009 when he had a managing job with Russia to return to after a prior stint at Chelsea’s interim manager, there are no such offers from other clubs or countries believed to be on the table for the aging manager.

Hiddink has quickly become a fan-favorite and a clubhouse favorite with multiple players in the locker room hoping that he retains the job next season. John Obi Mikel and Oscar in particular have praised Hiddink for his work.

However, it is widely believed that Italy manager Antonio Conte will take over as permanent manager at the end of Euro 2016, with an announcement expected in the coming weeks.

Though Conte is viewed as an extremely intelligent football mind and is a superb motivator in Italy, many pundits have expressed concern that his inconsistency as a manager prior to his stint at Juventus combined with his lack of command over the English language will prove to be a barrier to his immediate impact with the club. As a result, many have clamoured for Hiddink to be given a chance to retain the job in the 2016-17 season should he be willing to take it

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