THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
LONDON — Guus Hiddink ruled out staying on as Chelsea manager beyond the end of the season on Friday because of his commitment to Russia’s national team.
The 62-year-old Dutch coach was hired as a stopgap by Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich, the Russian businessman who also helps bankroll his country’s national federation, to take charge of the Premier League club following last week’s dismissal of Luiz Felipe Scolari.
But Hiddink said the Russia job comes first.
"Chelsea asked me to help out till the end of the season," Hiddink said at his first media conference with Chelsea. "I have my work with Russia, which I will fulfil.
"I have just done it because of the strong links between the Chelsea owner and the Russian federation."
The British media had suggested that Hiddink could stay longer, and bookmakers made him favourite to be in charge for the first game of next season, but the former Netherlands and South Korea manager said that won’t happen.
"I will help out to the end of the season, only to the end of the season," Hiddink said.
Chelsea, which has won two Premier League titles with Abramovich’s backing, has slumped to fourth in the English standings after Scolari’s short-lived stint.
Hiddink said it would be tough to catch leader Manchester United, which is 10 points ahead of the Blues, but insisted that Chelsea remains "in the race" for the Champions League, which resumes next week.
Hiddink led PSV Eindhoven to the European title in 1988, while Chelsea lost last year’s final to Manchester United with a penalty shootout.
"I’m not just here to pass then time to until the end of the season," Hiddink said.
Hiddink’s first match is at third-place Aston Villa on Saturday before Wednesday’s round-of-16 Champions League meeting with Juventus on Wednesday.