Chelsea identify former Blue as Hiddink replacement
Chelsea’s search for a new manager could lead them to their former player, Mark Hughes, according to the Telegraph.
The club are putting together a contingency plan in case they fail to land a high profile manager over the summer. The names placed in that plan include Mark Hughes, former Chelsea manager, Claudio Ranieri and promising Bournemouth manager, Eddie Howe.
Chelsea’s hierarchy have sounded out Diego Simeone as their number one choice to replace Guus Hiddink, but may struggle to land the Argentine without the lure of Champions League football.
The Chelsea bosses are big fans of Howe’s work at Bournemouth, but are reluctant to offer him a job after just one season in the Premier League, leaving the former Chelsea player, Hughes, high up on the shortlist.
Roman Abramovich hasn’t hired a British manager during his time at Stamford Bridge, the last English manager was Glenn Hoddle in 1993. Hughes has done a very good job at Stoke, transforming the club’s reputation and style of play.
The Stoke boss will know Chelsea well, he spent three years as a player at Chelsea, where he won the FA Cup, League Cup and UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup.