Guus Hiddink says he turned down the Leicester City job 'indirectly'
Sunday 2 April 2017 09:23, UK
Guus Hiddink says that he turned down the opportunity to manage Leicester "indirectly" following Claudio Ranieri's sacking.
The 70-year-old, who has twice been to Chelsea's rescue after sacking managers including last season after Jose Mourinho's dismissal, insists he was not asked the question directly but through intermediaries.
But Hiddink - a European Cup winner with PSV Eindhoven - believes the Foxes made the right decision appointing Ranieri's assistant Craig Shakespeare.
Speaking to the Sunday Times, the Dutchman said: "To be strictly correct, I didn't talk directly with Leicester. But you know how the line goes. 'They think of you...'
"They asked not directly but indirectly, but I said no. If you have decided to sack Ranieri, why don't you go with your number two guy?
"Shakespeare knows the club, knows the players. Why don't you go there, you will see what will happen, I said. Happily I was right.
"Liverpool [Shakespeare's first game in charge] didn't know what hit them. Within 20 minutes, 2-0. And five days later Leicester won at Hull. The relegation problem was solved in five days."
Leicester secured their fifth consecutive victory under Shakespeare on Saturday, beating Stoke at home 2-0.
