Next Chelsea manager betting odds – Guus Hiddink favourite

Premier League Betting

Since Roman Abramovich has taken charge of Chelsea, we know that the football club is very much a plaything of the Russian, who seems to have little in the way of a long-term plan when it comes to delivering success.

Yes, there is some focus on the development of young players, although Carlo Ancelotti’s attempt to mix them into the fold during the early stage of the season came to nothing and Abramovich promptly went and splashed out big money on Fernando Torres and David Luiz in January.

We know these were not Ancelotti signings as the Italian has just been relieved of his duties at Stamford Bridge and while the media report that “Chelsea begin their search for a new manager”, it essentially falls to the club’s rich owner to decide which man to install and try to deliver instant success in the Champions League.

Guus Hiddink is the favourite to become the next Blues manager with most firms – Paddy Power offer a stand-out 5/2 about the Dutchman while Victor Chandler go as short as 6/4 that the current manager of Turkey returns to the club where he spent a short spell two seasons ago, winning the FA Cup.

Hiddink could just be the man to help the club to Champions League glory, something that Ancelotti, Avram Grant, Jose Mourinho, Claudio Ranieri and Luiz Felipe Scolari have all failed to achieve, while Hiddink has close ties with Abramovich after steering Russia to the semi-finals of Euro 2008.

Marco Van Basten is another player in the frame, which is somewhat surprising considering his managerial experience extends only to managing the Dutch national team and later Ajax. Even so, he’s a best price 3/1 with Blue Square to be appointed and has expressed an interest in the role.

A surprise name to emerge on to the shortlist is Harry Redknapp and the current Tottenham manager might feel as though he’s taken Tottenham as far as possible, especially after the club missed out on the Champions League this season. Bet365 offer 6/1 that the Spurs manager makes himself very unpopular at White Hart Lane by switching to Stamford Bridge, although we have seen him make a controversial move before.

Andre Villas-Boas has been described by many as the ‘new Mourinho’ and the Portuguese is 6/1 with Blue Square to follow in the footsteps of his compatriot by switching from FC Porto to Chelsea in the summer.
Villas-Boas has helped Porto to win the domestic league and Europa League this season, but the west London club would need to pay £15 million for his services.

The other names on the list are Mark Hughes (14/1 Coral), Pep Guardiola (14/1 Betfred), Jose Mourinho (14/1 Paddy Power) and Frank Rijkaard (20/1 Paddy Power). If Abramovich doesn’t manage to secure Hiddink’s signature, he will instead want someone who can be controlled and that counts Mourinho out.