Hiddink: No guarantee I'll stay with Turkey
Reuters - Friday 03 June 2011, 22:38
BRUSSELS - Guus Hiddink, strongly tipped
by the media to take over at Chelsea, said he could not
guarantee he would still be in charge of Turkey when the Euro
2012 qualifiers resume in September.
The Dutchman faced a barrage of questions about his future
after Turkey drew 1-1 in Belgium on Friday.
Belgium and Turkey are chasing a play-off spot behind runaway
Group A leaders Germany. Hiddink's team are one point behind the
second-placed Belgians but have a game in hand.
Asked whether he would still be leading Turkey against
Kazakhstan on September 2, Hiddink told reporters: "I'm not, at this
moment, in that position.
"I always like to be very clear. I can formally say I have a
contract until 2012."
Hiddink, though, said he had an opt-out clause in his
contract with the Turkish football federation.
"When there are issues we can always talk. That's a very
short answer, a clear answer," the 64-year-old added.
Asked if he had been in touch with Roman Abramovich, owner
of 2010 English Premier League champions Chelsea, Hiddink said:
"I'm on holiday now."
The Dutchman has had a distinguished coaching career, taking
South Korea to the semi-finals of the 2002 World Cup and
Netherlands to the last four of the 1998 tournament.
Hiddink spent a brief spell in charge of Chelsea in 2008/09,
combining the job with his former role as Russia coach.