Gus Hiddink appointed Chelsea manager

Chelsea have confirmed Russia coach Guus Hiddink will manage the club until the end of the season.

The Stamford Bridge club have turned to the 62-year-old Dutchman following the departure of Luiz Felipe Scolari.

Hiddink will combine both roles, something he has done in the past with Australia and PSV Eindhoven.

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Chelsea are currently seven points behind Barclays Premier League pacesetters Manchester United, having played a game more.

It is unclear whether or not Hiddink's stay at Chelsea may be extended beyond the end of the campaign – but it is thought he remains committed to his role with Russia.

Chelsea confirmed they were given permission to talk to Hiddink just yesterday. But with his close links to Blues owner Roman Abramovich, it was never likely to be a lengthy dialogue.

Hiddink has never before coached in England and has been out of club management since leaving PSV Eindhoven to take over Australia in 2006.

The Chelsea statement, released via their official website www.chelseafc.com, read: "Chelsea FC is delighted to confirm Guus Hiddink will become temporary coach until the end of the season.

"He is due to meet the players later this week. The club would like to take this opportunity to thank the Russian Football Union for their co-operation and understanding."

Hiddink is currently in Turkey with the Russian national side and is likely to fly to England tomorrow, before linking up with his new charges for the first time on Friday.

That may come too soon for the experienced Dutch coach to take his place in the dugout for the Blues' FA Cup fifth-round clash at Watford on Saturday, in which case Ray Wilkins would take charge of the match.

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Hiddink would nevertheless be expected to take his place in the stands for that match before starting work with the players ahead of the February 21 meeting with Aston Villa.

Hiddink inherits a side who, despite enduring a disappointing run in the build-up the Scolari's shock dismissal, are still in with a chance of significant success before the end of the campaign.

Victory over Watford would leave them well placed in the FA Cup, while the Champions League is still within Abramovich's sights.

A last-16 meeting with Juventus – and former Chelsea boss Claudio Ranieri – awaits Hiddink but realistically a challenge for the Premier League title will now have to wait for another day and, potentially, another manager.

While the draw of Chelsea may prove strong, Hiddink is determined to lead Russia into the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa – a job he was charged with by Abramovich himself.

The club, meanwhile, may use the time Hiddink's arrival has bought them by pursuing their interest in AC Milan boss Carlo Ancelotti.

The Dutchman's attentions should not be too severely divided between now and May, with Russia facing only two qualifiers in that time.

Neither of those – against two of the lesser lights of international football, Azerbaijan and Liechtenstein away on April 1, clash with the Premier League programme.

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And the dual role is one he has already been backed to succeed in by Russia skipper Sergey Semak.

Semak told TV station Russia Today: "He's taking extra responsibility on himself, but I don't think it will somehow affect the Russian team," Semak said.