The Turkish Football Federation will resist any attempt from Chelsea to lure Guus Hiddink back to Stamford Bridge.
Dutchman told he cannot combine both jobs
The Turkish Football Federation claim they will resist any attempt from Chelsea to lure Guus Hiddink back to Stamford Bridge.
Hiddink has been installed as bookmakers' favourite to replace under-pressure Carlo Ancelotti at Stamford Bridge should the club dispense with the Italian's services at the end of the season.
Ancelotti is facing an uncertain future following the Blues' elimination from the UEFA Champions League and speculation is intensifying about who might replace him in West London.
Hiddink had a brief spell in charge of Chelsea when he was also manager of Russia back in 2009, leading them to FA Cup glory.
However, Turker Tozar, the senior national team communications manager, insists there is a clause in Hiddink's contract stopping him from working for a club as well as Turkey.
"Only last week we refused an approach for him from Ajax and the contract between him and our president [Mahmut Ozgener] does not allow him to work for a club while he is working for the Turkish national team," Tozar told
The Daily Telegraph.
"There is a specific clause and our president would look coldly at any attempt to change that. We understand that people like Roman Abramovich have him in mind but if he made an offer to us it would be refused.
"If you look at Guus Hiddink's career he has always fulfilled his contract and he has also told us that Turkey could be his last stop as a coach. We would like him to take us to the 2014 World Cup finals."
Interest
Meanwhile, another candidate linked with the job, Frank Rijkaard, has opened the door for a possible move to England.
Rijkaard is currently out of work after leaving Galatasaray last year and the Dutchman's agent, Perry Overeem, says he would be interested in moving to the Premier League.
"He left Galatasaray in November and since then he has had the possibility of other jobs, including in the Premier League," Overeem told the
Daily Star.
"It was a big club, but it wasn't the right team at the right time.
"Now Frank is ready to take another job and that may as well be in the Premier League."
Overeem insists Rijkaard's lack of Premier League experience would not be a problem for the former Barcelona chief.
"As manager of Barcelona he has played against English clubs in the Champions League," he said. "Everyone knows the Premier League. Not having working there is not that big an issue."
