Guus Hiddink set for Stamford Bridge return as Roman Abramovich sacks Jose Mourinho

Guus Hiddink's most recent job was as national team manager of the Netherlands

 

GUUS HIDDINK is the bookmakers' favourite to replace sacked Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho.

 

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich finally axed Mourinho after the champions' disastrous start to the season.

Mourinho has paid the ultimate price with the Blues slumped in 16th place in the Premier League, one point outside the relegation zone.

It is the second time the Portuguese tactician has been axed at Stamford Bridge, after his first spell ended in 2007.

 

Ex-Tottenham manager Juande Ramos had been mooted as a potential replacement, giving him a return to management for the first time since 2014, when he left Ukranian side Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk

But Hiddink, who was sacked as Netherlands manager in June of this year, is now set to reprise his role as interim Chelsea boss, after he came in for Luiz Felipe Scolari in 2009.

 

The man who then replaced Hiddink, Carlo Ancelotti is joint third favourite at 12/1 along with Bayern Munich manager Pep Guardiola, who has refused to confirm whether he will renew his contract with the German club at the end of the season.

The speculation over Guardiola's future has created unrest at a number of top European clubs, including Manchester United, but Manchester City are reported to be at the top of the list to sign the Spanish manager.