Sunday 24 January 2016 07:18, UK
Chelsea boss Guus Hiddink believes Arsenal might be the last club to stick with a manager as long as they have with Arsene Wenger.
Wenger is closing on 20 years in charge at the Emirates, during which time more than a dozen managers have been installed across London at Stamford Bridge, even though it is the Blues who have claimed more Premier League titles in that spell.
The rivals meet on Arsenal territory on Sunday, live on Sky Sports, and Hiddink talked in far more positive tones about Wenger than his predecessor Jose Mourinho, who famously called the Frenchman a 'specialist in failure' in 2014.
"I think he might be one of the last to sit on the chair that long," Hiddink said.
"Him being in charge regarding those nine years without a title means there is a lot of confidence from the board. And from both sides to see they can go into a future where they are stable, although not winning every year a title.
"But there are many clubs fighting in England, it's very competitive."
Asked why Wenger's longevity might be a thing of the past, Hiddink added: "I don't know why. Maybe the instant result is required.
"It depends on the club, on the philosophy and the calmness of a club. It's always good to have men who are a long period in a club, to have them in very good management positions.
"That doesn't mean they have to be on the pitch always, but they can also be very good later in their careers as help for the buying and selling stuff of the club.
"Then you maintain a philosophy, strategy in the club, which I think is important.
"If you change - and the manager has a lot of influence, let's say, on yearly or half-year basis to sign, not to sign, or to sell - then that might cause a bit of irregularity in clubs."
