Chelsea fans pleaded with their interim coach, but he stayed true to his word.
“Guus Hiddink, we want you to stay,” was the chant that rang around Stamford Bridge in May 2009 after the final home game of a campaign in which Chelsea finished in the top four in the Premier League and won the FA Cup, feats that had looked rather unlikely when the Dutchman took the helm in February.
Perhaps the former Real Madrid manager should have listened to the masses, for things have not gone too well for him in the six-and-a-half years since then.
Instead, Hiddink returned to his permanent post as manager of the Russian national team, just as he said he would all along.
He departed just over a year later, however, after Russia failed to defeat Slovenia in a qualifying play-off for the 2010 World Cup.
Success also eluded Hiddink in his next job with Turkey, while a trophy-less spell at Anzhi Makhachkala was brought to a premature end when it became apparent that the club’s billionaire backer would be withdrawing his funding.
ALSO READ: Chelsea players relish freedom in absence of Jose Mourinho
Leading his native Netherlands at Euro 2016 was supposed to be a fitting end to a rich and distinguished career, but that ambition also ended in ignominy.
Despite inheriting a team that finished third at the 2014 World Cup, Hiddink’s Netherlands side were unable to reach the expanded 24-team tournament in France, a competition that will feature four debutants in Albania, Northern Ireland, Wales and Iceland.
There are others who deserve criticism for that inexplicable failing – Hiddink left before the qualification campaign had reached its conclusion, with Danny Blind unable to inspire a turnaround – but it was certainly not the ideal denouement for the veteran coach.
As such, Hiddink finds himself back at Stamford Bridge with something of a point to prove.
He will not be short of support among Chelsea’s followers, despite the widespread annoyance at the dismissal of Jose Mourinho last week.
When Hiddink first arrived in London in February 2009, he found an underperforming squad lacking in confidence and harmony – not too dissimilar to the situation he is faced with now.
Predecessor Luiz Felipe Scolari may have had a fine pedigree at international level, but the European club game simply proved too much for him.
Chelsea’s form following Hiddink’s installation was spectacular, with 34 points taken from the next 39 available in the Premier League, enough to secure a comfortable third-place finish.
Uefa Champions League knockout ties with Juventus and Liverpool were also negotiated successfully, before Barcelona benefited from some questionable refereeing decisions to reach the final at Chelsea’s expense.
Undeterred, Hiddink led his charges to FA Cup success, with Everton overcome in the final at Wembley. It is little wonder that Chelsea fans were so keen for the caretaker manager to extend his stay.
There may be 21 matches remaining this term, but a top-three placing already looks beyond the champions.
Paris Saint-Germain will not be easy opponents in the last 16 of the Champions League, either.
On the flip side, though, there is little pressure on Hiddink or Chelsea to claim silverware this season.
For Chelsea, 2015/16 has largely been written off already, with professional pride and – in some cases – long-term futures the only things left to play for.
That lack of expectation will suit Hiddink, who will be well aware that this could be his final job in football.
Hiddink, 69, initially announced he would retire in the summer of 2013 before later changing his mind. Given his patchy recent record, the decision of when to call it a day may not necessarily be his.
It is that realisation that must be driving Hiddink on. After 43 years in the game and 28 as a manager, the Dutchman will be desperate to bow out on his own terms at the top.
Stakes could not be higher for Swansea City
With all the talk of Jose Mourinho, Louis van Gaal and Arsenal’s vital victory over Manchester City, Swansea City dropping into the bottom three last weekend seemed to go a little under the radar.
Having broken their Premier League points record last time out, 2015/16 has been a very disappointing campaign for Swansea so far.
The decision to dismiss Garry Monk earlier this month would not have been taken lightly – the 36-year-old manager spent 10 years at the club as a player before becoming manager in February 2014 – and chairman Huw Jenkins and the board will know that they must get their next appointment right.
Former Argentina, Athletic Bilbao and Marseille manager Marcelo Bielsa has been strongly linked to the vacancy in the last couple of weeks, with Gus Poyet, Roberto di Matteo and former Chelsea coach Jose Morais also rumoured to be in the frame.
Swansea have been one of the Premier League’s most well-run outfits in recent years, and their fans will have faith in Jenkins making another sensible choice.
The table dictates that there is not much room for error on this occasion, though.
Swansea’s success in recent years has largely been down to the stable identity created behind the scenes that means changes in the dugout can be absorbed without the club necessarily going backwards.
The likes of Roberto Martinez, Paulo Sousa, Brendan Rodgers and Michael Laudrup all did good work at the Liberty Stadium, but their exits did not prevent Swansea from progressing.
Given their accomplishments this decade, there is no reason to believe that the club will not make the right decision again.
However, having fallen into the drop zone as the midway point of the season approaches, the stakes for Swansea are undoubtedly higher this time around.
sports@thenational.ae
Follow us on Twitter @NatSportUAE
Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/TheNationalSport
